9ERTRAND  SMITHS 
at. RES  Oh  BOOKS 

»4O  "AriFIC  AVENUB 
BEACH.  CALIF. 


PIPPIN 


"Good-by,  Dad" 


PIPPIN 


BY 


EVELYN  VAN  BUREN 


WITH  ILLUSTRATIONS  BY 
REGINALD  B.   BIRCH 


NEW   YORK 
THE  CENTURY  CO. 


Copyright  1913,  by 
THE  CENTURY  Co. 

Published,  February,  IQI 


URL' 

SRLF  5141735 


TO 
MY  MOTHER 


ILLUSTRATIONS 
"  Good-by,   Dad " Frontispiece 

PAGE 

"Nothink,  .  .  .  nothink  at  all!"    .      .      .  .  107 

" 'E  is  a  comic" 113 

Pippin   penitent 145 

A  scream  and  Pippin  sprang 221 

The  photograph 227 

"Dandy!  ...  It 's  me  dad!" 235 

"  I  did  n't  know !  "  he  said 287 


PIPPIN 


CHAPTER  I 

IPPIN  was  down  on  her  luck.  This 
depressing  state  of  affairs  was  hard 
to  bear,  with  her  father  and  young 
brother  dependent  on  her  ability  to 
provide.  And  it  was  not  quite  as 
though  she  lacked  the  ability.  She  had  a  very 
clever  knack  of  getting  money.  But  of  late  she 
had  turned  against  her  method.  Her  conscience 
troubled  her;  owing  to  these  twinges  of  conscience 
she  had  been  in  tight  places  several  times  lately  but 
never  in  so  tight  a  place  as  now,  since  she  first  ac- 
quired her  easy  knack  of  obtaining  money.  For 
days  she  had  done  nothing  in  her  line. 

"  Hal  darling,"  she  was  saying  coaxingly  to  the 
small  brother,  "  I  've  made  you  this  bit  of  toastie. 
We  '11  half  it,  see,  and  put  the  bits  together.  So ! 
Shut  your  eyes,  think  of  marmalade,  take  a  bite 
and  what  ho!" 

"  I  'd  like  to  please  you,  Pippin  dear,"  he  looked 
up  into  his  sister's  face,  "  but  why  not  we  really 
'ave  marmalade  and  let  Dad  do  a  bit  o'  f ancyin' !  " 

3 


4  PIPPIN 

Pippin  stood  up  to  take  a  look  at  the  boy.  She 
opened  her  eyes  in  exaggerated  astonishment. 

"  What  '11  you  'ave  Dad  fancy  about,  old  chap?  " 

He  hunched  his  thin  shoulders  and  spread  out 
his  arms  in  their  loose  sleeves  upon  the  table  at 
which  he  sat. 

"  'Ave  'im  fancy  'e  's  got  that  new  checked  wais'- 
coat,  'e 's  'oping  you  to  buy  'im ! "  He  gave  a 
sadly  humorous  little  chuckle.  "  I  would  n't  mind 
fancyin'  about  some  things  but  it  is  'ard  doing  so 
much  of  it  about  your  tea.  I  likes  me  marmalade 
just  ever  so,  Pippin !  " 

She  swooped  upon  him  with  pitying  kisses. 

"Dear  old  fellow!  It  ain't  all  Dad's  fault, 
duckie.  It 's  your  Pippin  gettin'  notions  in  'er 
'ead!" 

Suddenly  releasing  him  she  drew  from  her 
pocket,  a  deep  one  in  the  folds  of  her  full  skirt,  a 
cotton  bag  and  upon  the  table  emptied  it  of  cop- 
pers and  silver.  Hal's  dark  eyes  lit  at  the  sign  of 
affluence;  he  eyed  the  money  greedily. 

"  There  y'  are !  "  he  said,  with  relief. 

"  You  shall  have  some  marmalade,  little  'un," 
she  suddenly  promised,  counting  over  the  money. 
"  There  's  enough  to  do  what  I  've  been  saving  for ; 
get  Their  Majesties  'ome  from  where  Dad  likes  to 
keep  'em,  with  his  Uncle  Solomon." 

Little  Hal  chuckled  again  at  this.  His  sister  sel- 
dom said  such  funny  things  of  their  dad. 


PIPPIN  5 

"  There,  there,  duckie !  "  she  chided  gently,  see- 
ing she  had  encouraged  the  lack  of  parental  respect 
in  her  small  brother. 

Father  and  son  were  not  chums.  She  sighed 
and  raised  her  eyes  from  the  money  to  the  two  un- 
faded  squares  of  wall-paper,  that  indicated  the  ab- 
sence of  accustomed  hangings. 

"  Mar's  dying  words,"  she  recalled  musingly, 
"was  about  Their  Majesties  —  Dad  and  Their 
Majesties.  *  'E  '11  put  'em  in,  dear,'  she  said  to 
me,  '  and  I  leaves  you  to  get  'em  out.'  She  always 
did!  'Ow  mar  loved  Their  Majesties  —  Dad  an' 
Their  Majesties !  *  Be  patient  with  your  dad, 
child,'  she  said  the  very  last ;  *  I  leave  'im  in  your 
care!'" 

Little  Hal  tugged  at  her  skirt. 

"  You  'd  best  put  the  money  back.  You  don't 
want  Dad  to  come  in  an'  see  it,  I  fancy ! " 

She  scooped  the  coins  back  into  the  bag  and  re- 
turned it  to  her  pocket. 

"  Suppose  now  you  stop  'ere  quiet,  while  I  slips 
round  to  Solomon's  and  fetches  Their  Majesties 
'ome.  They  's  time  to  do  it  before  Dad  comes  in 
to  tea,  eh,  old  chap !  " 

"If  you  .like,"  the  old  chap  leaned  back  pa- 
tiently. 

His  little  face  was  very  white  beneath  the  shock 
of  red  hair. 

Pippin  regarded  him  anxiously. 


6  PIPPIN 

"  You  do  go  off  without  your  meat  puddings,  my 
word  you  do.  Try  to  nibble  a  bit  on  the  toastie, 
there  's  a  dear."  She  kissed  him  and  catching  up 
her  cap  hurried  out. 

Hal  stared  at  the  expectant  squares  of  wall-paper. 

"  She  '11  bring  Their  Tghnesses  'ome  and  'ang 
them  up,"  he  complained  in  his  tired  drone,  "  and 
we  '11  'ave  puddings  with  our  tea  and  sugar  in  it 
for  a  bit  and  then  Dad  '11  sneak  Their  'Ighnesses 
back  to  Solomon's  and  they  '11  be  another  spell  like 
this ;  and  then  Pippin  '11  save  up  to  get  'em  out  and 
it  '11  go  on  forever,  I  dare  say." 

His  head  drooped  to  his  arm  upon  the  table,  his 
eyes  closed. 

It  was  the  unbelievable  sound  of  something  grat- 
ing and  gritting  in  a  cup  that  roused  him.  He 
opened  his  eyes.  Pippin  stood  near;  from  a  spoon 
she  held  sugar  sifted  slowly  into  a  mug  of  milky 
tea.  She  raised  it  to  his  lips;  he  drank  deeply  and 
lifting  his  eyes  discovered  the  return  of  Their 
Majesties  to  their  places  upon  the  wall.  Hal  drew 
breath  and  drank  again,  looking  up  to  the  framed 
smiling  face  of  King  Edward  and  his  beautiful 
queen. 

"Is  it  better  with  the  sugar,  darling?  And 
'ere 's  your  toastie  really  spread  with  marmalade 
now.  And,"  Pippin  bent  and  whispered,  "  are  you 
glad  to  see  'em?  "  She  pointed  toward  the  pictures 
over  the  mantelshelf. 


PIPPIN  7 

He  nodded,  looking  again  at  the  dignified  faces 
of  Their  Majesties. 

"  You  are  good,  Pippin,"  he  sighed,  "  and  it 's 
rippin'  to  see  Their  Majesties  'ome  again."  He 
bit  at  the  toast.  Then  he  added  slyly,  "  It  '11  not 
be  long  till  old  Sol 's  got  'em  back !  " 

Pippin  sighed  too. 

" '  Be  patient  with  your  dad/  was  Mar's  last 
words,"  she  again  recalled  musingly.  "  My  word, 
was  n't  she  patient  with  'im !  *  'E  's  got  the  true 
instincts  of  a  gentleman  and  can't  'elp  it/  she  al- 
ways said.  Mar  thort  Dad  a  gentleman." 

Pippin  brushed  savagely  at  her  sudden  tears. 

"  I  gave  me  solemn  word  I  'd  look  after  'im  same 
as  she  did.  I  gave  me  word  I  'd  keep  Their  Majes- 
ties 'ome.  It  was  n't  'ome  without  'em  to  Mar." 

The  recalling  of  her  mother's  words  and  her 
own  promise  was  like  a  quick  prayer  to  still  the 
inward  tumult  of  rebellion. 

"  Yer  does  awright,  Pippin.  I  've  even  'card 
Dad  s'y  so !  "  comforted  little  Hal. 

Then  at  the  sound  of  shuffling  footsteps  on  the 
stairs,  he  hunched  his  shoulders,  his  head  hung  sul- 
lenly. Pippin  quickly  brought  another  chair  to 
the  table. 

"  Evenin',  children."  A  thin  little  man  with 
beady  eyes  came  in. 

Pippin's  father  had  a  manner  of  feeling  his  way 
cautiously;  he  practised  a  turtle-like  movement  of 


8  PIPPIN 

the  head  and  neck.  Upon  the  table  he  placed  sev- 
eral small  packages,  then  drew  a  dark  bottle  from 
his  pocket.  This  was  his  evening  meal  purchased 
from  what  Pippin  gave  him.  He  sat  down,  poured 
the  fluid  from  the  bottle  into  a  tumbler,  filled  it 
with  water,  helped  himself  from  the  packages,  and 
ate.  With  audible  enjoyment,  his  head  tipped 
backward,  he  drank  deeply,  when  suddenly  over  the 
rim  of  his  glass  his  eye  met  His  Majesty's. 

"  Ah,"  he  said,  "  you  've  got  'em  back,  Pippin !  " 

Pippin  nodded. 

"What's  'e  starin'  at,  Pippin?  Why  ain't  'e 
a-bed  ?  "  fretted  her  father.  His  eyes  had  dropped 
angrily  to  his  son's.  Little  Hal  stared  back  boldly. 

Quickly  Pippin  drew  the  offender  in  his  chair  to 
the  window.  With  uncanny  comprehension  and 
aversion  the  son  withdrew  his  somber  gaze  from 
the  paternal  countenance. 

"'Ave  a  sniff  of  the  fish  frying  downstairs, 
duckie,"  urged  Pippin. 

This  privilege  came  from  living  on  the  first  floor 
over  a  fried-fish  shop.  Pippin  took  a  sniff  herself 
and  then  hurried  across  the  room  to  the  remarkable 
specimen  of  antiquity  in  the  corner  —  a  chest  of 
drawers. 

"  Ah,"  her  father  smacked  his  lips ;  "  you  've  got 
me  new  wais'coat  to-noit  ?  " 

She  frowned.  Several  days  ago  she  had  prom- 
ised he  should  have  it  soon. 


PIPPIN  9 

"  I  Ve  not,  Dad,"  she  admitted.  "  The  little  nip- 
per was  'ungry  and  Their  Majesties  'ad  been  in  ever 
so  long,  as  you  know !  " 

Her  dad  eyed  the  boy. 

"  'Ungry  was  'e !  'E  does  n't  care  about  'is  dad, 
not  'im!" 

He  looked  back  at  Their  Majesties.  He  never 
disapproved  their  return  to  the  fold,  because  their 
presence  represented  ready  money  as  soon  as  he 
needed  to  claim  it.  Suddenly  he  looked  at  his 
daughter. 

"  Did  n't  'ave  the  money  for  the  wais'coat,  eh  ? 
You  must  be  very  short  then.  I  've  no  patience 
with  you.  An'  you  so  clever  too ! "  He  stared 
back  as  she  turned  her  eyes  sharply  upon  him. 

"  Why,  Dad  Raymond,  wotcher  mean !  " 

Mr.  Raymond  smiled  faintly. 

"What  do  I  mean?" 

He  drank  off  the  mixture  in  his  glass.  Ke 
waited  a  moment,  during  which  he  squinted  at  the 
green  bottle.  It  gave  him  courage  and  a  firm  re- 
solve. He  rose.  Any  slight  timidity  he  felt  was 
overcome  by  the  bullying  air  he  assumed. 

"  I  could  'ave  a  good  'ome  and  a  new  missus  if 
it  wasn't  for  me  children,  especially  if  it  wasn't 
for  you!" 

There  was  a  moment's  silence. 

"Wotcher  mean,  Dad  Raymond?"  Pippin  said 
again,  in  astonishment. 


io  PIPPIN 

"  I  mean  to  s'y,"  he  went  on  emboldened  by  her 
disarmament,  "  that  the  widow  Flossie  Fullerton 
down  'ere  end  o'  the  Lane  would  'ave  me  —  she 
would  'ave  me  if  it  wasn't  for  me  children,  most 
especially  if  it  was  n't  for  you !  " 

He  retreated  a  step  or  two,  placing  the  chair  be- 
tween them  as  Pippin  came  quickly  nearer. 

"Been  courting,  'ave  you?  Courting!  That's 
what  I  've  kept  you  dossed  up  for  of  evenings. 
That 's  what  the  wais'coat  is  wanted  for !  The  wid- 
ow Flossie  Fullerton,  too !  Another  missus  — !  " 

She  came  close  and  a  sudden  gesture  swept  the 
tumbler  over. 

"  Look  out !  "  Dad  Raymond  said ;  "  now  don't 
mike  a  row,  or  I  'm  off.  I  am  only  tellin'  yer,  Pip- 
pin ;  I  'm  only  tellin'  yer !  " 

"  She  'd  'ave  yer,  would  she,  if  it  was  n't  for 
your  children  —  for  me !  " 

"  That 's  it,"  he  said,  bucking  up  again.  "  It 's 
you !  She  hints  at  things  you  do.  It 's  not  very 
pleasant  for  me." 

"  Ho !  "  Pippin  came  nearer.  "  It  ain't  so  much 
me,  as  the  w'y  I  gets  me  money  — "  she  blurted  out 
savagely. 

"  I  'm  surprised  at  your  'arshness,"  Dad  Ray- 
mond whined.  "  What  would  your  mar  s'y  ?  " 

"  That 's  it,"  Pippin  nodded.  "  What  would  my 
pore  mar  s'y !  " 

She  banged  a  solid  little  fist  on  the  table. 


PIPPIN  ii 

He  turned,  opened  the  door,  and  was  gone! 

Pippin  stood  for  a  moment  staring  at  the  wooden 
panels  of  the  door,  which  had  banged  in  her  face. 
She  turned  slowly.  Little  Hal  drowsing,  in  spite 
of  the  row,  had  scarcely  taken  in  its  meaning.  She 
went  to  the  window  and  stood  looking  out. 

The  Raymonds  had  lived  in  Thistledown  Lane 
for  three  years.  There,  frail  Mrs.  Raymond,  hav- 
ing got  her  family  moved  in  and  settled,  was  sud- 
denly seized  with  an  ailment  that  had  no  name. 
She  said  she  was  just  fagged.  The  struggle  was 
short.  She  turned  over  the  care  of  the  ornamental 
but  highly  improvident  Mr.  Raymond  to  her  young 
daughter,  and  having  received  Pippin's  tearful 
promise  to  keep  him  a  gentleman,  her  tired  body 
relaxed  and  her  overfond  heart  ceased  to  beat. 

Pippin  was  very  young  then.  Her  effort  to  fill 
her  mother's  engagements  at  charing  were  unsuc- 
cessful. Her  lack  of  strength  and  speed  met  with 
complaints,  and  her  pay,  scarcely  sufficient  at  best 
for  the  needs  of  a  family  with  a  gentleman  at  the 
head,  dwindled  cruelly  to  almost  nothing.  Mr. 
Raymond  complained  bitterly  then  and  took  the 
pictures  of  Their  Majesties  from  their  places  over 
the  mantleshelf  and  left  them  with  old  Solomon. 
Little  Pippin  cried  bitterly. 

"That's  enough  o'  that,"  her  father  stated 
sternly.  "  Look  sharp  an'  earn  the  money  an' 
you  've  got  'em  back !  " 


12  PIPPIN 

The  first  thing  she  saw  while  "  looking  sharp  " 
was  a  young  woman  managing  a  very  clever  thing 
in  the  Fulham  Road,  not  far  from  the  Lane.  The 
young  woman  was  in  a  purple  velvet  gown,  and  she 
wore  the  highest  of  heels  and  her  stockings  matched 
her  gown.  She  was  standing  outside  a  green- 
grocer's, eyeing  some  bananas  and  suddenly  an 
elderly  lady,  carrying  a  black  leather  bag,  pushed 
past  her  and  stopped  to  examine  some  luscious 
fresh  figs  through  her  lorgnon. 

The  purple  velvet  one  turned  her  attention  from 
the  bananas  to  the  black  leather  bag  of  the  elderly 
lady.  She  rubbed  up  against  her,  wedging  the  bag 
between  them,  and  while  eagerly  manifesting  mu- 
tual interest  in  the  figs,  the  hand  nearest  her  victim 
stole  out,  deftly  opened  the  black  bag,  extracted  a 
coin-purse,  and  noiselessly  reclosed  the  bag.  She 
looked  covertly  round  as  she  backed  off.  The  dark- 
eyed,  wondering  and  even  admiring  gaze  of  little 
Pippin  on  the  curb  met  hers.  The  young  woman 
hovered  for  an  instant  in  alarm,  on  the  verge  of 
flight,  but  no  one  else  had  seen.  The  elderly  lady 
decided  against  the  figs  and  hurried  away ;  the  shop- 
keeper returned  within;  the  purple  one  giggled. 
Then  Pippin  laughed.  The  girl  walked  away  and 
Pippin  followed  when  she  was  beckoned;  that  was 
the  beginning  of  her  friendship  with  Doll. 

It  was  not  long  before  she  surpassed  Doll  in  the 
art  of  picking  a  pocket,  and  soon  thereafter  Mr. 


PIPPIN  13 

Raymond  complained  less  and  for  some  time  Their 
Majesties  remained  in  their  places  over  the  mantel. 
Pippin  had  learned  to  "  look  sharp." 

At  first  she  played  the  game  with  roguish  de- 
light. She  enjoyed  her  friend's  flattering  praise. 
There  was  Doll  and  Doll's  Harry  and  Harry's  sis- 
ter, Kitty.  Pippin  had  for  a  while  shared  spoil 
with  them.  But  she  grew  older.  Doll  was  with- 
out honor;  she  did  not  play  fair  and  got  herself  dis- 
liked by  little  Pippin  for  her  sly  tricks  upon  her. 
She  longed  for  other  companionship.  Distaste  of 
her  shady  methods  gradually  grew  upon  her.  She 
was  frequently  unable  to  do  anything.  And  then 
very  lately  too,  she  had  made  another  acquaintance 
—  a  tall,  slender  young  man  of  pleasant,  persuasive 
manner  and  honest  face.  She  had  declined  Dan- 
dy's attentions  with  the  awful  fear  that  he  might 
find  out  the  kind  she  was.  She  was  not  fit  to  as- 
sociate with  him !  And  so  her  moral  standard  sud- 
denly distorted,  had  become  more  normal  again  — 
and  Pippin  suffered. 

She  stood  looking  down  at  Hal,  then  moved  un- 
easily. It  was  very  warm  to-night  and  though  she 
liked  the  fragrance  from  the  shop  below,  of  fish 
frying  in  oil,  just  now  it  seemed  a  little  heavy; 
indeed  it  hung  over  the  street  like  a  cloud. 

Slowly  the  idea  of  her  future  without  Dad  Ray- 
mond spread  out  before  her. 

Her  mind  traveled  to  the  house  at  the  end  of 


14  PIPPIN 

Thistledown  Lane.  She  recalled  the  widow  Fuller- 
ton's  windows.  There  were  none  cleaner  in  Lon- 
don! The  luxury  of  her  little  sitting-room  could 
be  viewed  any  evening  in  its  glowing  comfort  from 
the  street  This  was  a  privilege  the  widow  enjoyed 
affording  the  Lane. 

"  Perhaps  it  would  be  a  good  thing  for  'im  to 
'ave  the  widow  Floss !  " 

She  looked  round  in  the  darkness;  the  bare  little 
room  needed  no  light  to  recall  its  familiar  dingi- 
ness.  A  contrasting  picture  came  to  her  mind. 
Dad  Raymond  neatly  attired,  taking  tea  in  the  little 
sitting-room  with  the  handsome  Flossie,  seated  there 
comfortably,  happily  at  home  with  her.  And  Pip- 
pin free!  She  gave  a  little  joyous  gasp.  What  a 
release  it  would  mean  —  to  her  —  and  little  Hal 
she  could  easily  provide  for. 

"  Dad  'd  be  looked  out  for,  and  I  'd  be  on  me  own 
and  able  to  go  —  str'ight." 

She  spoke  the  word  whisperingly,  hopefully. 
She  thought  of  different  occupations  she  would  like. 
A  lady's  maid  seemed  most  respectable  and  of  a 
high  order  of  domesticity.  There  might  be  need 
of  some  other  arrangement  for  little  Hal,  but  never 
mind.  It  was  a  good  idea  anyway. 

First  and  foremost  her  dad  must  be  helped  along 
in  the  courtship.  She  went  to  the  ancient  chest  of 
drawers  that  toppled  drunkenly  in  the  corner. 
From  it  she  took  a  coat  and  trousers  of  wonderful 


PIPPIN  15 

zebra  design,  shaking  and  examining  them  care- 
fully. Not  a  button  was  missing,  every  sign  of 
wear  was  neatly  darned. 

She  placed  them  on  a  chair-back,  adding  a  scarlet 
waistcoat,  brave  in  brass  buttons  if  a  little  frayed 
and  faded,  a  high  collar  and  cravat  of  green.  She 
inspected  each  article  closely  and  with  pride. 
From  her  pocket  she  drew  a  small  box  and,  opening 
it,  looked  over  the  contents,  a  stick-pin,  a  fob  and  a 
tooth  in  gold  setting.  These  ornaments  when  not 
aiding  her  father's  dignity  she  kept  upon  her  to 
prevent  them  from  going  in  at  Solomon's.  Hold- 
ing them,  she  sat  down  to  wait.  Her  father  she 
knew  would  soon  return.  His  tempers  seldom 
lasted  long. 

The  clock  beneath  the  pictures  of  Their  Majes- 
ties struck.  It  was  getting  late.  But  a  cautious 
shuffling  sounded  on  the  landing!  The  door 
opened  slowly  and  Mr.  Raymond  peered  in.  Pippin 
jumped  up. 

"  Come  along,  Dad,"  she  urged  reassuringly. 
"  It 's  awright.  You  've  no  call  to  be  afeared  of 
me.  Come  in !  " 

"  Oh,  very  well,"  he  acquiesced  amiably. 

"  Dad,"  she  began,  "  I  dare  s'y  I  was  'arsh  — " 

"  That 's  awright,"  he  said.  "  But  yer  know  I 
can't  stand  rows !  " 

"  It 's  your  daughter's  place  to  help,  not  'inder, 
and  I  means  to.  Flossie  can  make  you  'appier  than 


16  PIPPIN 

what  I  can,  so  go  ahead,  I  s'y!  I  won't  stand  in 
yourw'y.  I '11  be  off!" 

Dad  Raymond  stared. 

"  I  Ve  been  wanting  to  take  a  berth  as  —  as 
lady's  maid  —  an'  now  I  '11  'ave  a  go  at  it.  Me  an' 
the  little  fellow  will  be  off." 

Dad  Raymond  looked  at  his  son. 

"  Flossie  would  tike  'im,"  he  admitted  reluc- 
tantly. 

"  Not  it !  "  cried  Pippin.  "  No  woman  's  got  to 
take  care  of  Mar's  children.  I  've  looked  after  Hal 
for  three  years  and  I  want  to  keep  on." 

"  You  're  a  good  gal,  Pippin ;  you  always  was !  " 
the  father  admitted,  brightening. 

His  face  suddenly  broke  into  smiles.  "  Ever 
seen  Flossie  ?  "  he  asked. 

Pippin  nodded. 

She  recalled  the  plump  widow's  prosperity  as  well 
as  her  rather  florid  beauty,  the  cause  of  such  vigor- 
ous discussion  among  Mrs.  Fullerton's  feminine 
neighbors. 

"  From  what  I  hear  said  'ere  about  the  Lane, 
Dad,  they 's  them  besides  you  likes  'er.  There  's 
the  tobacconist  next  door  'ere — " 

"  She  can't  'elp  that"  said  Mr.  Raymond.  "  You 
need  n't  s'y  so  either,  but  'e  's  no  chance." 

"  Certainly  not,"  agreed  Pippin ;  "  an'  ain't  she 
got  the  cleanest  windows,  an'  such  window-boxes !  " 

"Many's  the  butting-'ole   I've—"     Mr.   Ray- 


PIPPIN  17 

mond  broke  off  confusedly.  It  would  not  do  to  let 
on  about  the  boutonnieres  made  and  presented  to 
him  by  Flossie's  own  fair  hand,  for  he  had  promptly 
sold  them.  They  brought  a  penny  each.  Mr. 
Raymond  had  a  keener  appreciation  of  money-value 
than  of  sentiment. 

Pippin  indicated  his  clothes  on  the  chair-back. 

"  Dad,"  she  said,  "  I  've  kept  me  promise  to  Mar. 
I  've  done  me  best  for  you.  I  've  kept  Their  Majes- 
ties 'ome  as  much  as  possible.  Perhaps  I  ain't  been 
to  you  what  Mar  would  'ave  been  but  you've  not 
seemed  to  me  quite  what  you  did  to  pore  Mar, 
most  particular  of  lite.  But  I  fancy  I  'd  stuck  to 
you  and  we  'd  gone  on  deceivin'  each  other  if  it 
'ad  n't  'appened  as  it  'as." 

She  stepped  a  little  nearer  him. 

"  Now  I  will  go  aw'y.  You  can  tell  Flossie  I  've 
mide  off  —  run  aw'y.  I  'd  like  runnin'  aw'y  from 
you,  Dad,"  she  admitted  brutally,  "  but  there  was 
the  promise  to  Mar  and  —  and,"  her  voice  softened 
then ;  "  well,  a  gal's  dad  is  'er  dad  and  I  'd  'ave 
worrited  about  you ;  but  now  I  'm  going  to  run 
aw'y.  You  '11  not  know  where,  so  it 's  truth  yer 
can  tell  Flossie." 

A  smile  ventured  still  further  to  soften  his  face, 
but  Pippin  went  on  severely. 

"  You  're  to  give  me  a  promise,  Dad  Raymond !  " 

He  stared  back  at  her. 

"  You  're  never  to  look  me  up,  never  to  see  me  if 


18  PIPPIN 

we  meets  unless  I  seem  to  see  you.  I  've  me  rea- 
sons, I  '11  know  what 's  best  for  us  both ;  do  yer 
promise  ?  " 

His  shaking  hands  pressed  his  collar  down,  his 
head  jerked  upward. 

"  Anythink  you  like,"  he  said. 

"  Then  s'y  yer  promises ;  s'y,  *  I  promises ' ! " 

"  Lummy,"  he  fretted,  "  I  promises  right  enough. 
You'll  tike  the  boy?" 

"  Rather !  "  agreed  Pippin.  "  Yer  can  go  to  'er 
and  s'y,  '  Flossie,  I  've  got  no  children  now,  I  've 
got  nothink ;  will  yer  be  mine  ? '  and  she  '11  tike 
you."  Looking  him  over,  she  added  warningly, 
"  Don't  'ave  'er  see  you  without  your  tooth,  Dad. 
You  seemed  a  gentleman  to  pore  Mar  and  Flossie 
might  like  to  fancy  the  same." 

She  held  out  her  hand. 

"  We  '11  be  gone  before  yer  up  in  the  mornin'." 

Mr.  Raymond  gave  his  hand  weakly,  his  eyes 
resting  upon  his  daughter.  He  appeared  suddenly 
reluctant  to  lose  her. 

"  Buck  up,  Dad,  and  I  wish  yer  'appiness.  Now 
get  into  your  clothes !  " 

Mr.  Raymond  gathered  them  up  and  retired  to 
the  privacy  afforded  by  the  two  threadbare  skirts 
joined  together  and  hung  from  the  ceiling,  in  the 
corner  opposite  the  chest. 

Very  soon  he  emerged,  a  good  imitation  of  a 
zebra  in  a  scarlet  waistcoat.  Pippin  hurried  to  tie 


PIPPIN  19 

his  green  cravat.     She  added  the  dog's-head  stick- 
pin, and  handed  him  the  fob. 

"  An'  'ere  's  your  tooth ;  make  it  fast  so  it  can't 
drop  out  when  you  're  talkin'  to  'er." 

Mr.  Raymond  took  it  and,  grimacing  horribly, 
replaced  a  missing  upper  front  tooth. 

"  Now,  then,"  Pippin  handed  him  his  cap  and 
walking-stick.  He  took  them  and  walked  slowly 
to  the  door. 

"  Good  luck,"  Pippin  called. 

She  went  to  the  window  and  saw  him  go.  Deb- 
onair and  care-free  he  took  his  way  to  woo  and 
win  the  belle  of  the  Lane.  Pippin  sank  upon  her 
knees,  looking  across  at  the  high  board  wall  oppo- 
site, and,  leaning  farther  out,  she  got  a  glimpse  of 
the  King's  Road,  out  of  which  Thistledown  Lane 
jutted.  In  the  King's  Road  couples  arm  in  arm, 
red-coated  Tommys  with  their  sweethearts,  passed, 
sauntering  homeward  after  a  pleasant  evening  in 
the  street.  She  thought  eagerly  of  another  little 
street  not  so  far  away  and  not  much  larger,  to  be 
sure,  than  the  little  Lane,  but  oh  how  different. 
She  thought  happily,  too,  of  the  tall  slender  youth 
of  pleasing,  persuasive  manner!  A  belated  street- 
organ  suddenly  started  a  popular  number  over  in 
the  King's  Road.  Pippin  sprang  up,  giving  exu- 
berant vent  to  her  hopes  by  executing  a  few  dancing 
steps  over  the  creaky  floor.  She  was  eager  for  to- 
morrow ! 


CHAPTER  II 

AILY  ablutions  were  as  important  to 
Pippin's  comfort  as  her  early  morn- 
ing cup  of  tea.  Her  face  had  the 
glow,  contour,  and  splendid  color  of 
a  firm  red  apple;  christened  Victoria, 
as  she  had  been  for  the  gracious  queen  who  reigned 
over  England  at  her  birth,  and  Alexandra  for  the 
charming  woman  then  princess  of  Wales,  Pippin's 
resentment  of  the  obvious  cause  of  her  nickname 
was  not  unjust  though  unavailing.  Soap  and  water 
and  hard  scrubbing  failed  to  remove  the  deep  red 
of  her  cheek;  trouble  and  hardship  left  its  curve 
unbroken.  Hers  was  not  the  style  of  beauty  she 
most  admired. 

"  To  be  pale  and  sweet,  I  'd  give  su'think,"  she 
often  sighed. 

Her  hair  was  black.  Upon  her  forehead  a  row 
of  curls  stuck  into  place  by  a  forefinger  moistened 
at  the  tip  of  the  tongue,  and  a  bun  prominent  at 
the  back  of  her  head,  was  her  customary  coiffure. 
Her  eyes,  which  were  nearsighted,  had  usually  a 
deeply  wondering  gaze  and  the  pupils  dissolved 
softly  into  the  dark  background,  giving  an  owlish 

20 


PIPPIN  21 

look  when  she  was  not  scheming.  She  was  short- 
limbed  and  plump.  Buttoned  tightly  within  a  plain 
bodice  attached  to  a  full  skirt,  she  hardly  achieved 
the  effect  of  slenderness  to  which  she  aspired. 

Pippin  made  her  toilet  with  care,  early  the  morn- 
ing after  her  determination  to  free  Dad  Raymond 
of  the  burden  of  his  children. 

Little  Hal  sat  at  the  window  watching  her.  His 
white  face  was  bright,  his  joy  restrained  with  diffi- 
culty. The  sound  of  Dad  Raymond's  regular 
breathing  from  the  unbeauti  fully  curtained  interior 
increased  his  anxiety  to  hurry  flight  before  the 
parental  awakening. 

Pippin  dragged  the  blanket  from  her  bed,  and 
spreading  it  upon  the  floor,  neatly  placed  upon  it 
such  articles  of  wearing  apparel  as  were  theirs. 
From  an  old  box  that  propped  up  the  head  of  her 
legless  bed,  she  took  a  secret  possession  —  some  bed 
linen!  Between  folds  of  newspaper,  fragrant  with 
the  dried  flower  of  sweet  lavender,  it  was  as  her 
mother  had  left  it  —  her  wedding  gift  when  a  kind 
employer  had  parted  with  the  faithful  woman  who 
became  Mr.  Raymond's  bride.  Pippin  laid  it  with 
the  rest  and  upon  this  pile,  face  to  face,  she  placed 
the  pictures  of  the  King  and  Queen.  Other  cher- 
ished belongings;  a  gilt-rimmed  cup,  the  mantel- 
clock,  a  knife,  a  two-pronged  fork  and  a  wooden 
spoon  of  carved  ornamentation,  she  was  careful  to 
add. 


22  PIPPIN 

"  All  these  things  pore  Mar  loved  an'  had  give 
'er,"  she  said. 

"  Fancy,"  chuckled  little  Hal,  "  only  fancy  run- 
nin'  aw'y  from  Dad !  " 

He  slipped  from  his  chair,  caught  up  his  tattered 
cap,  a  cast-off,  checked  affair  of  his  father's,  and 
put  it  on  peak  to  left  that  he  might  avoid  total 
eclipse  beneath  it.  His  little  body,  tense  with  eager- 
ness, was  but  a  rack  for  the  ill-fitting  garments. 

"  Buck  up,  Pippin,  do ;  let 's  be  off ! "  he  whis- 
pered, missing  the  heavy  breathing,  suddenly. 

Pippin  was  at  a  drawer  of  the  old  chest  that 
treasured  her  father's  splendor.  With  usual  care 
she  brought  out  the  zebra  suit,  scarlet  waistcoat  and 
other  accessories  to  his  adornment.  She  threw 
some  sticks  on  the  fire,  left  the  teapot  handy 
and  took  up  her  bundle.  Her  cotton  dress  was  of 
clean  and  starchy  coolness,  piquantly  set  off  by  a 
small  fur  cap  worn  at  so  jaunty  an  angle  as  to  ap- 
pear glued  to  her  head.  The  cap  had  long  stuck 
to  Pippin  and,  worn  through  all  the  changing  sea- 
sons since  her  mother's  death,  it  had  seemed  to  de- 
crease in  size  as  Pippin's  countenance  filled  out  and 
broadened  beneath  it.  She  struck  at  it,  gripped  her 
bundle  tighter,  and  motioned  to  little  Hal.  As 
they  moved  to  the  door  the  head  of  Dad  Raymond 
popped  from  his  apartment.  Pippin  halted. 

"  Good-by,  Dad.  Good  luck !  Shake  'ands  with 
Dad.  love!" 


PIPPIN  23 

Father  and  son  hurried  the  ceremony.  Then  Pip- 
pin moved  with  her  long  stride,  leading  Hal.  They 
left  the  room  and  descended  the  narrow  stairway. 

Pippin  had  never  mixed  with  others  in  the  Lane. 
Consciousness  of  her  method  of  livelihood  had  kept 
her  fearfully  aloof.  Now  she  hurried  along  and 
hardly  any  one  but  the  fried-fish  man  sweeping  out 
his  shop,  witnessed  the  eager  departure. 

"  Now,"  she  said,  as  they  came  to  a  dairy  in  the 
King's  Road,  "  'ere  's  where  you  're  to  'ave  a  treat, 
duckie.  Jubilee  Court,  the  street  where  there  's  that 
room  to  let,  I  'm  keen  on,  is  just  beyond  and  you  '11 
stop  'ere  with  the  bundle  and  tike  your  milk  till 
Pippin  goes  about  the  room." 

"  We  '11  'ave  plenty  of  money  now  we  're  quit  o' 
Dad,  eh,  Pip  ?  "  wisely  observed  Hal. 

He  climbed  up  on  the  high  stool  before  the  coun- 
ter and  as  Pippin  deposited  the  bundle  on  the  floor 
beside  him,  he  piped  out  his  order  for  "  a  glass  of 
milk  and  a  bun  with  seeds  in  it,  please  'm ! " 

"  Bless  the  little  man,"  remarked  the  pleasant 
woman  behind  the  counter,  while  Pippin  regarded 
with  open  admiration  this  sudden  development  of 
manliness. 

Little  Hal  had  always  been  fretful  and  dependent. 
She  pushed  back  his  cap,  smoothed  his  hair  and 
smiling,  spoke  indulgently. 

"  'E  '11  stop  'ere  for  a  bit,  if  you  don't  mind. 
I  've  an  errand  down  the  street." 


24  PIPPIN 

'  'E  '11  stop  'ere  and  tike  time  to  eat  'is  bun,  not 
to  'ave  it  a  lump  in  'is  tummy,"  was  the  reply  and 
his  sister  hurried  away,  nodding  her  thanks. 

Pippin  knew  her  London.  It  was  vast.  It 
was  full  of  sudden  congested  little  byways 
that  led  quickly  from  poverty  to  wealth.  Ju- 
bilee Court  had  twin  rows  of  five  little  houses, 
spick  and  span  in  fresh  white  paint  with  green  trim. 
The  end  house  in  each  row  soared  boastingly  half  a 
story  higher  than  the  others  and  like  proud  sisters 
looked  down  upon  the  little  ones.  Pippin  loved 
Jubilee  Court,  yet  it  was  not  really  unlike  many 
another  little  street  she  might  have  chosen.  She 
might  have  gone  further  away  from  the  old  one 
since  she  was  to  start  a  new  life.  But  in  the  Court, 
which  she  had  first  discovered  in  seeking  a  short 
cut  to  the  West  End,  she  had  lately  loitered  fre- 
quently. It  had  been  for  some  time  steadily  grow- 
ing upon  her.  It  seemed  such  a  friendly  street, 
and  the  symbol  of  respectability.  She  glanced 
ahead  and  saw  where  the  prim  little  court  that  led 
in  narrow  unpretention  from  Kings  Road,  burst 
suddenly  into  an  array  of  fashionable  private  resi- 
dences, that  linked  circling  round  a  private  impaled 
square.  There  the  soft  gleam  of  green  met  the 
eye  soothingly.  The  great  old  trees  fanned  back 
a  breeze ;  fenced  in  by  the  rich  gentry,  they  yet  re- 
membered charitably,  with  dignified  and  cooling 
nods,  the  neighboring  little  court. 


PIPPIN  25 

Pippin  drew  another  quick  breath.  After  all 
maybe  it  was  too  presuming  to  be  trying  for  this. 
Then  boldly  she  swung  ahead.  Again  she  marked 
the  rows  of  white  door-stones,  the  freshly  painted 
doors  and  brass  knockers,  the  line  of  clean,  white- 
curtained  .windows.  The  flowering  brilliance  of 
the  window-boxes  almost  surpassed  those  of  Flossie 
Fullerton  in  beauty. 

Between  the  curtains,  every  window  displayed  an 
ornament,  a  sacred  sign  of  respectability.  Here  a 
small  table  with  a  vase  of  artificial  flowers,  there  a 
lifelike  exhibition  of  fruit.  Tantalizingly  real  to 
Pippin,  the  purple  plums  or  the  blue  grapes,  and  it 
seemed  well  indeed  that  a  glass  covered  them.  In 
one  window  there  was  a  cage  of  love-birds.  This 
display  was  exactly  opposite  the  room  to  which 
Pippin  aspired.  But  as  she  looked,  she  missed  the 
sign  that  had  been  in  the  top-floor  front  window; 
a  woman  was  there  shaking  a  dust-cloth.  Pippin 
stood  staring  up  at  her,  black  eyes  narrowed  in  her 
nearsighted  way. 

"  Well,  miss  ? "  inquired  the  woman  eagerly, 
thrusting  out  her  head,  to  gaze  back  at  Pippin. 

"  Good  morning,"  Pippin  called  out.  "  I  came 
about  the  room  you  're  doing  now ;  I  was  'oping  to 
tike  it!" 

"  Stop  a  bit,"  the  woman  answered  and  drawing 
in  disappeared  from  view.  She  came  down  quickly 
to  Pippin  in  the  street. 


26  PIPPIN 

"So  it's  let?"  Pippin  said.  "I'm  that  disap- 
pointed you  can't  think ;  I  'd  got  me  'eart  set  on  this 
street ! "  There  was  a  break  in  her  voice.  The 
woman  eyed  her. 

"  You  'ad,  had  you  ?  "  She  looked  the  would-be 
tenant  over.  "  Well,  I  've  not  let  the  room.  I  was 
only  washin'  the  window.  I  am  the  caretaker, 
Mrs.  Crimmins  by  nime,  and  I  live  in  the  back  'ere 
and  I  Ve  the  letting  of  the  street !  " 

"  Oh,  that 's  it,"  said  Pippin. 

"  You  see,"  explained  Mrs.  Crimmins,  continu- 
ing to  examine  the  applicant  critically,  "  they  's  all 
families  in  this  street.  One  or  two  to  a  'ouse. 
Just  'ere  at  the  end,"  she  nodded  first  at  the  room 
above,  then  to  the  little  window  opposite  where  the 
love-birds  hung,  "  I  let  these  top-floor  odd  rooms 
each  to  single  lodgers  being  first  certain  they  Ve 
got  a  character ;  in  other  words  the  rent  fortnightly 
in  advance." 

She  looked  but  detected  no  change  in  the  girl's 
countenance.  From  the  open  window  where  the 
love-birds  hung,  there  piped  the  sound  of  a  flute. 
Mrs.  Crimmins  began  to  beat  time. 

"  I  Ve  a  flutist  up  there.  Flutist  in  the  Earl's- 
Court-Exhibition-Ladies'-Band ! " 

Pippin  grinned  in  accompaniment,  while  her 
mind  yearned  eagerly  to  claim  some  equally  becom- 
ing and  alluring  occupation  for  her  own. 

"  'Ow  much  is  the  rent  of  the  room  ?  "  she  asked. 


PIPPIN  27 

The  caretaker  ceased  humming  to  look  her  over 
again. 

"  Why  not  'ave  a  look  at  it ;  it 's  better  to  know 
what  you  're  bargaining  for." 

Pippin  nodded  to  this  quickly. 

Within,  the  hall  and  stairs  were  laid  with  clean 
linoleum,  the  woodwork  smelled  of  the  fresh,  green 
paint  that  matched  the  doors  and  window-boxes 
without.  They  passed  a  pretty  girl  on  the  stairs 
and  Mrs.  Crimmins  paused  and  as  Pippin  came 
along,  nudged  her,  whispering: 

"  A  bride.  Not  long  married  an'  'e  gives  'er 
three  rooms  —  the  whole  floor,  you  may  s'y ! " 
She  stooped  to  pluck  up  some  of  the  feathers  the 
bride's  boa  had  shed  upon  the  clean  stairs.  "  You 
see  I  've  tip-top  'uns  and  I  'm  obliged  to  'ave  me 
eyes  open  to  keep  the  street  up  to  what  it  is !  Why 
I  'ave  had  gentle  folks,  ladies  stopping  in  the  Court ! 
Out  o'  luck  for  the  time,  y'  know  or  su' think  — " 

They  came  to  the  room  and  Mrs.  Crimmins  threw 
open  the  door.  Pippin  drew  a  quick  fluttering  sigh 
of  delight. 

"  All  furnished,  not  a  stick  needed ;  the  very 
thing !  "  she  cried. 

She  tripped  round  the  room,  observing  the  chest 
of  drawers  that  stood  so  erect  and  brightly  ve- 
neered, peering  into  the  little  wardrobe,  patting  the 
bed  and  leaning  from  the  window  to  gaze  across  at 
the  love-birds  and  into  the  Court  below.  She 


28  PIPPIN 

swept  back  to  the  firepla.ce  to  admire  the  bric-a- 
brac  of  the  mantelshelf,  plucked  aside  the  flowered 
curtains  at  hand  and  revealed  the  little  cupboard. 
Her  owlish  eyes  softened  and  glowed,  her  apple 
cheeks  flushed  and  paled,  the  downward  lines  of 
her  mouth  curved  pleasurably  upward.  It  was  a 
room  for  the  person  she  was  going  to  be.  She  saw 
herself  in  it,  changed,  industrious,  proud,  honest. 
Half -consciously  she  felt  the  power  of  environ- 
ment. She  faced  Mrs.  Crimmins  with  a  little 
hopeful  smile. 

"  It 's  fit  for  a  lady,"  she  said. 

"  Then  you  're  lookin'  out  lodgings  for  an- 
other ?  "  Mrs.  Crimmins  turned  her  head  for  the 
answer  to  be  spoken  in  her  right  ear. 

For  another !  It  was  an  inspiration ;  for  another 
she  could  talk  freely,  drive  a  bargain  and  plan. 
She  stood  briefly  hesitating.  Then  a  slow  smile 
overspread  her  round  face. 

"  The  room  is  for  a  lady !  " 

Mrs.  Crimmins  dropped  her  cloak  of  aloofness. 

"  I  wondered  to  meself  when  I  see  you  come  sail- 
ing down  the  street.  I  thort  too,  now  there  's  mys- 
tery!" 

"  She  's  not  a  lady  of  wealth,"  Pippin  said. 

She  had  a  clear  plan  now  and  glowed  with  impa- 
tience to  clinch  the  bargain. 

"What's  the  best,  ma'am,  you  can  let  me  the 
room  for  ?  " 


PIPPIN  29 

"  Five  bob !  "  Mrs.  Crimmins  tapped  familiarly 
at  Pippin's  tightly  buttoned  little  bodice. 

Pippin  pursed  her  lips. 

"Of  course  you  know  your  price,  Mrs.  Crim- 
mins. I  don't  want  to  'aggie!  Still  I  really  can't 
manage  above  four  bob !  "  she  said. 

"  Very  well,"  agreed  the  caretaker  reluctantly ; 
"  four  bob  does  it." 

She  wadded  her  window-cloth  into  one  hand  and 
held  out  the  other.  Pippin's  impulse  was  to  shake 
it,  but  instead  she  dipped  into  her  pocket  and  be- 
sides a  half  crown  (the  price  of  Dad  Raymond's 
check  waistcoat,  that  it  would  now  be  another's 
pleasure  to  buy)  she  produced  one  shilling  and  six- 
pence. She  dropped  the  money  into  Mrs.  Crim- 
mins's  hand. 

"  Four  shilling  —  that 's  only  one  week !  A 
fortnight  in  advance  is  the  regular  custom,"  re- 
minded Mrs.  Crimmins,  her  hand  remaining  ex- 
tended, jingling  the  coins. 

"  Funny  thing,"  mused  Pippin ;  "  she  thort  one 
week  'd  do  it." 

Mrs.  Crimmins  looked  thoughtful. 

"  I  've  not  got  any  more  on  me  just  now,"  Pip- 
pin added,  "  or  I  'd  make  it  a  fortnight." 

She  dropped  her  frock  over  the  pocket  of  her 
underskirt  with  businesslike  finality  and  went  on 
quickly. 

"  I  'm  to  tike  possession  till  she  comes.     You  '11 


30  PIPPIN 

like  'er,  ma'am,  a  lady,  but  not  too  much  side  or 
snubbin'  superior  w'ys." 

She  broke  off.  There  was  a  new  gleam  in  Mrs. 
Crimmins's  eyes;  was  it  doubt,  suspicion  or  what? 

"  I  does  for  'er,"  Pippin  added  eagerly ;  "  sews, 
and  she  likes  me  about.  I  '11  need  to  be  'ere  close 
till  she  comes." 

"When  is  she  coming?"  asked  Mrs.  Crimmins. 

Pippin  struck  at  her  cap. 

"  Not  to-d'y ;  pre'aps  not  to-morrow."  Then 
slyly,  "  She  is  watching  'er  chance  to  —  get  aw'y." 

Mrs.  Crimmins  pocketed  the  single  week's  rent. 

"  What 's  the  lady  getting  aw'y  from  ? "  she 
asked. 

"  No  doubt  she  'II  tell  you,  ma'am,  she 's  that 
open  an'  honest,  but  it  wouldn't  be  quite  right  for 
me  to." 

"Young?"  persisted  the  caretaker. 

Pippin  nodded. 

"  Young  and  beautiful!  "  she  stated  firmly. 

"  'Ere,"  said  Mrs.  Crimmins,  seizing  the  arm  of 
her  visitor;  she  waved  a  hand  over  the  room. 
"  The  lodger  before  the  last  in  this  room  was  a 
young  woman  that  told  'ow  she  was  a  workiri'  gal 
— "  Mrs.  Crimmins  closed  one  eye  with  her  little 
finger.  "  She  was  a  lady  born  and  bred  as  ever  I 
see.  Trouble,  love  or  su'think  was  upon  her  and 
it  was  plain  she  'd  set  'erself  to  earn  her  own  w'y. 
She  was  out  all  d'y  an'  every  d'y  up  to  the  one  that 


PIPPIN  31 

she  comes  rushing  down  to  me  with  a  letter  and  a 
look  on  'er  face,  so  different  from  what  she  'd  been 
wearin'  of;  and  what  was  it  but  that  some  one  'ad 
died  out  in  India  and  fixed  'er  for  life  with  thou- 
sands o'  pounds,  I  forget  now  'ow  many ! " 

"  My  word !  "  breathed  Pippin. 

"  They 's  some  things  here,"  Mrs.  Crimmins 
wafted  the  window-cloth  over  the  household  lux- 
uries, "  which  she  left  for  me,  and  though  leavin' 
'em  in  the  room,  I  charges  only  sixpence  extra  and 
'ope  they  '11  bring  luck  to  the  next  lodger  same  as 
to  'er  that 's  gone !  Five  an'  six  is  the  price  o'  this 
room,  so  you  can  see  'ow  I'm  obligin'  you.  Four 
shilling  —  it 's  dirt  cheap !  " 

"  You  're  a  very  good  woman,  Mrs.  Crimmins, 
I  can  see  that !  "  enthused  Pippin. 

"  I  'm  looking  for  character,"  the  lady  said, 
"  but,"  she  added,  "  I  loves  mystery !  And  of 
course  it 's  my  business  to  keep  the  rooms  let !  " 

As  Pippin  gazed  back  at  Mrs.  Crimmins  a  little 
regretful  pang  stirred  her.  A  quick  impulse  to 
confess,  to  open  her  heart  and  unburden  it,  moved 
her,  but  it  passed  and  left  her  cold. 

"  There  's  my  brother,  little  Hal,"  she  began  to 
explain.  "  'E  '11  stop  along  of  me  till  the  lady 
comes.  She  'd  wish  it.  Mar 's  dead  and  Dad,  be- 
ing nervous,  does  n't  like  the  little  chap  about." 

At  this  Mrs.  Crimmins  snorted.  "  Your  dad  is 
no  doubt  a  worm !  " 


32  PIPPIN 

"  Dad  's  not  quite  that,  ma'am,"  Pippin  said. 

"  Don't  defend  'im ! "  Mrs.  Crimmins  replied. 
"  It  reminds  me  of  my  Sally.  She  always  de- 
fended her  dad  and  look  'ow  'e  treated  'er.  Made 
'er  shift  for  'erself  at  the  tender  age  of  eight." 

"  Cruel  'ard,"  murmured  Pippin,  tipping  her 
head  suddenly  to  read  the  gold  lettering  round  the 
vase  on  the  mantelshelf. 

"  But  Sally 's  the  kind  to  take  opposite  sides  no 
matter  what.  She  's  older  than  you  and  'as  got  a 
'usband  of  'er  own  now,  but  no  children,"  Mrs. 
Crimmins  went  on. 

She  flicked  at  things  with  her  duster,  emphasiz- 
ing her  eager  bursts  of  confidence. 

"  They  've  a  inn  out  Hornsey  Rise  w'y  and  a  bit 
of  ground.  /  allow  Sally  me  two  youngest,  Ar- 
thur and  Bertie,  'er  little  brothers,  for  company. 
She  keeps  'em  in  the  pure  air  very  reasonable  an' 
so  gives  me  a  free  'and  'ere." 

Pippin  turned  from  the  beauties  of  the  room  to 
regard  Mrs.  Crimmins  with  inquiry. 

"  'Ow  much  ?  "  she  then  asked  shortly. 

"You  could  see  Sally,"  Mrs.  Crimmins  re- 
flected, approaching  Pippin.  "If  she  took  a  liking 
to  the  boy  — " 

"'E's  a  love,"  Pippin  assured  fondly.  "  It  'd 
do  'im  such  good  for  a  bit  too,  'e  's  not  robust. 
I  '11  be  off,  ma'am,  an'  fetch  him  for  you  to  see. 


PIPPIN  33 

And  I  wants  to  get  the  room  settled  —  for  the 
lady!" 

"Ah,"  said  Mrs.  Crimmins,  "the  room  is  in 
shape  for  the  lady  an'  my  advice  is  to  get  the  little 
chap  packed  off  —  fidgets  'is  pore  dad,  do  'e?" 

As  Pippin  went  out  the  muttered  words  of  Mrs. 
Crimmins  floated  after  her : 

"  Another  Crimmins  —  their  own  children  makin' 
'em  nervous ! " 

Pippin  ran  down  the  stairs  and  looked  up  and 
down  the  little  street.  She  turned  an  appreciative 
ear  to  the  rehearsing  flutist.  Her  eyes  devoured 
the  flowering  window-boxes,  the  fresh  paint  filled 
her  nostrils.  Her  heart  beat  athrill  with  joy 
and  pride.  She  belonged  already.  This  was  her 
new  home  —  Jubilee  Court 


TALL  young  man  with  a  kindly,  hon- 
est face  paced  along  the  Fulham 
Road.  The  vividly  striped  pattern 
of  his  clothes  increased  his  slender 
height  and  closely  outlined  the  an- 
gularity of  his  nimble  limbs.  He  stopped  fre- 
quently with  an  acrobatic  manoeuver  that  bent  his 
knees  and  whirled  him  round  abruptly.  Then  he 
looked  eagerly  back  along  the  street,  turned  again 
with  a  show  of  disappointment  and  resumed  his 
way.  He  puffed  a  long  stemmed  pipe.  His  man- 
ner was  partly  playful;  passing  a  fruit  stand  he 
snatched  a  handful  of  gooseberries,  dropped  them 
into  his  coat  pocket  and  dodged  into  a  convenient 
doorway  near  by.  He  saw  the  wrathful  fruiterer 
come  from  the  shop  and  after  a  moment  of  mis- 
chievous enjoyment,  he  gaily  confronted  him. 

"  'Ere  you  are,"  he  said,  extending  some  coppers. 
"  I  was  only  larking  a  bit !  " 

The  shopkeeper  laughed  hugely  at  the  joke  and 
the  two  enjoyed  a  short  chat. 

It  was  the  hour  for  morning  marketing  and  the 
shops  in  Fulham  Road  were  busy.     Passing  omni- 

34 


PIPPIN  35 

buses,  too,  were  crowded  and  a-top  of  them  para- 
sols and  gay  head-gear  gleamed  in  the  June  sun- 
light. The  young  man  moved  along  but  finally 
stopped  on  the  curb  where  he  ate  the  gooseberries 
and  watched  the  people  passing.  A  young  woman 
sauntered  past.  She  wore  a  purple  hat  with  a 
stringy,  purple  feather  upon  it.  Her  purple  vel- 
veteen skirt  dragged  behind  and  only  reached  her 
ankles  in  front,  displaying  purple  stockings  and  the 
high  heels  that  caused  her  swagger  gait.  At  once 
her  roving  glance  was  attracted  by  the  somewhat 
conspicuously  attired  loiterer.  She  turned  and 
came  back  slowly,  gazing  at  the  solitaire  in  his 
cravat  with  the  fascination  of  a  connoisseur  of 
precious  stones. 

She  passed  back  again  more  slowly  and  repassed, 
her  eye  upon  the  gem.  But  her  antics  were  sud- 
denly observed  by  the  young  man.  He  gave  her 
a  measuring  glance,  stared  suspiciously  and  tucked 
the  bordered  silk  handkerchief  into  his  pocket.  The 
purple  one's  nose  went  up  in  disgust.  As  she 
walked  away  she  muttered,  "  Glass ! "  and  turned 
to  other  things. 

The  youth  touched  his  scarf-pin,  felt  his  watch, 
and  so  reassured  walked  on  in  a  thoughtful  way. 
He  was  clearly  out  in  the  hope  of  meeting  some 
one,  very  particular.  He  puffed  at  his  pipe  which 
had  gone  out  and  with  his  head  thrust  forward  con- 
tinued rather  dejectedly  on  his  way. 


36  PIPPIN 

Suddenly  out  of  Jubilee  Court  swept  a  girl. 
There  was  almost  a  collision. 

"  Dandy !  "  she  gasped. 

"  What  ho ! "  cried  he,  his  face  lighting  as  he 
looked  at  her.  "  My  eye,"  he  added,  "  I  'd  just 
about  give  up.  I  was  going  back  along  the  road 
once  more  —  I  am  glad  to  see  you;  'ow  are  you, 
Victoria  Alexandra  ?  " 

"  Awright !  "  she  returned  shyly,  and  in  embar- 
rassed pleasure  at  her  lover's  use  of  her  rightful 
name. 

The  color  of  her  apple  cheeks  had  won  him  but 
he  did  not  call  her  Pippin. 

She  turned  a  shade  pinker,  touched  at  her  cap 
and  row  of  curls  and  suddenly  recovering  her  sang- 
froid, she  gave  him  a  playful  blow  in  the  chest. 

"  G'on !  "  she  said.  "  Wotcher  dawdlin'  about 
'ere  for;  tell  us!" 

"  I  Ve  spent  the  entire  morning  lookin'  for  your 
ladyship.  I  'm  on  a  'oliday,"  he  answered,  beaming 
upon  her.  "  But  'ere ;  does  a  cloud  darken  your 
brow,  Victoria  Alexandra?"  he  asked  solicitously 
as  a  sober  look  crossed  her  face.  "  Is  su' think  up  ? 
Anything  a  cove  can  do  ?  " 

"  They 's  nothink,"  she  answered  quickly, 
"  though  you  're  very  kind.  But  it  is  quite  a  d'y 
for  me  —  you  see  I  'm  starting  out  on  me  own  like 
to-d'y,  leavin'  me  dad,  who 's  takin'  a  new  missus ; 
so  'e  does  n't  need  me  or  little  Hal,  me  brother,  y* 


PIPPIN  37 

know.  I  've  just  been  about  a  room  in  Jubilee 
Court  and  I  'm  moving  there  to-d'y." 

"  That 's  the  talk,"  Dandy  said,  bending  his  face 
to  a  level  with  hers ;  "  that 's  the  w'y !  Now 
there  '11  be  no  more  nonsense,  I  'ope,  such  as  '  me 
dad  wouldn't  hear  of  it'  Can  you  give  any  rea- 
son, I  ask,  for  not  walkin'  out  along  of  me  now, 
Victoria  Alexandra  ?  " 

Pippin  laughed.  Dandy  was  such  a  wit  she  al- 
ways laughed  at  him;  he  did  everything  in  a  hu- 
morous way,  from  so  swiftly  conducting  the  ar- 
dent courtship  she  had  at  first  tried  to  discourage, 
to  calling  her  by  her  dear  names,  Victoria  Alex- 
andra. 

"  No,  Dandy,"  she  admitted  thoughtfully, 
"  they  's  nothink  to  stop  our  walkin'  out  now." 

She  looked  into  his  eyes.  There  was  a  happy 
light  in  them. 

"  That 's  better,"  he  smiled  back ;  "  it 's  su'think 
like  to  'ear  you  talk  sense.  I  came  out  to-d'y,  as 
I  've  said,  to  look  yer  up,  old  gal.  I  says  to  meself 
when  I  snapped  on  this  'ere  cravat,"  he  tapped  the 
tie  and  Pippin's  glance  was  attracted  by  its  deli- 
cate shade,  matching  perfectly  the  tender  blue  of 
Dandy's  eye,  "  I  says  it 's  the  last  time,  Dandy,  old 
cove,  you're  to  ask  the  little  woman  —  if  she  says 
no  again,  it  '11  be  because  she  fancies  another  — " 

"  It 's  not  so,"  Pippin  cried  out  sharply ;  "  it 's 
been  Dad  needin'  me ! " 


38  PIPPIN 

"  Awright  then/'  drawled  Dandy. 

A  smile  rippled  over  his  face. 

"  Are  we  engiged,  dear  ?  " 

Pippin  looked  down  at  the  even  row  of  buttons 
on  her  bodice. 

"  If  you  like,  old  chap."  Then  she  added  with 
affected  flippancy,  "  Anythink  for  a  quiet  life." 
But  she  ran  her  forefinger  up  and  down  the  row 
of  buttons,  the  blush  deepening  and  paling  upon  her 
cheek. 

"  An'  when  will  you  name  the  d'y,  Victoria  Alex- 
andra?" 

"  Oh,  that  '11  be  a  good  w'y  off,"  she  said. 

Fully  resuming  her  coquetry,  she  again  banged 
his  chest.  "  Now  'ave  a  bit  o'  patience,  old  cove, 
can't  yer?  There's  lots  of  reason  for  waitin'," 
she  hurried  on ;  "I  've  got  to  get  used  to  bein'  by 
myself.  I  've  got  to  get  a  situation  — " 

"There  y'  are,"  Dandy  put  in.  "Without  a 
father  now  —  well,  'ow  yer  going  to  p'y  the  rent !  " 

"  In  course,"  she  murmured,  momentarily  assum- 
ing the  attitude  of  a  dependent  daughter.  "Now 
I  '11  need  to  shift  for  meself,  but,"  she  added  sud- 
denly, "  I  can  do  it !  I  wants  to.  I  've  several 
things  in  mind !  " 

He  looked  admiringly  at  her. 

"Awright,  old  gal!  Then  we'll  do  a  bit  o' 
courtin'  till  yer  gets  sick  o'  work  and  wants  a  cove 
to  lift  the  burden,  as  'e  '11  be  waitin'  to  do!  " 


PIPPIN  39 

"  Till  then  — "  an  upward  glance  eloquently  fin- 
ished her  sentiment. 

He  pressed  her  arm  and  returned  her  look.  Then 
he  drew  her  along  with  him. 

"  'Ow  about  'ouse'old  furnishings  ?  "  he  thought- 
fully inquired. 

Pippin  gaped  at  her  lover's  intuitive  powers. 

"  I  'm  not  furnishing,  old  chap.  The  room 's 
complete,"  she  said,  "  and  as  comfy — !  " 

There  was  an  odd,  suddenly  yearning  look  in  her 
eyes. 

"What  is  it,  then?"  Dandy  asked,  bending  to 
read  her  face  and  receiving  the  loud-voiced  ap- 
proval of  a  passing  cabby.  "  There 's  su'think 
you  'd  like ;  it 's  plain  in  your  eye." 

Pippin  felt  that  she  was  very  weak  this  morn- 
ing. The  room,  the  charm  of  the  quiet  genteel  lit- 
tle court  was  upon  her. 

"  Every  window  's  got  an  ornament  in  it,  in  the 
Court,  every  one  but  me.  Opposite  mine  is  a  cage 
of  love-birds." 

"  What  would  you  like  in  yours,  dear  ? "  he 
urged.  "  A  canary  —  named  Teddy  ?  " 

"  I  'd  love  a  canary,"  she  admitted  it  softly. 

"  Ah,"  he  said,  "  in  the  Brompton  Road." 

He  hurried  her  along  and  she  clung  to  his  arm, 
her  face  lifted  to  his  and  a  flush  of  joy  tinting  her 
cheeks. 

"  There 's  the  little  nipper  — "  she  began. 


40  PIPPIN 

"Rather,"  agreed  Dandy.  "We'll  start  out 
with  a  bit  of  a  family,  when  we  do  get  off,  what? 
To  think  I  've  never  seen  'im,  too ! " 

"  'E  's  waitin'  now  five  minutes'  walk  from  'ere 
in  a  dairy,"  Pippin  said,  hurrying  forward. 

Suddenly  from  a  doorway  shot  the  purple  velvet 
creature. 

"  Go  blimy ! "  she  exclaimed,  facing  them,  "  if 
it  ain't  little  Pippin ! " 

"Doll!"  Pippin  said. 

" My  word,"  shrilled  Doll,  "am  I  a  ghost  or 
what,  to  give  yer  such  a  turn  ?  You  've  gone  like 
chalk,  Pip!" 

She  broke  into  a  high  giggle. 

"  Thort  you  was  copped,  eh  ?  " 

She  seemed  unable  to  subdue  her  laughter. 
Bending  nearly  double  in  mirth,  the  purple  feathers 
of  her  hat  swept  the  pavement,  her  bun  of  hair  be- 
came loosened  and  trailed  down  her  back. 

"  'Ere,"  she  shrilled,  sobering,  as  Pippin  leading 
Dandy  moved  cautiously  round  her ;  "  introduce 
your  bloke." 

"  Mr.  Daniels,"  Pippin  said,  "  this  is  Mrs. 
Thorns." 

Dandy  stared. 

"  Know  my  'Any  ?  "  grinned  Doll. 

"  'E  does  not ! "  Pippin  replied  for  her  young 
man ;  "  an'  if  you  don't  mind,  we  '11  be  going  along 
about  an  errand  we  're  on." 


PIPPIN  41 

"  If  it 's  so  pressing !  "  replied  Doll,  her  merriment 
gone. 

"  S'long,  Doll !  "  came  tremulously  from  Pippin 
and  still  clinging  to  Dandy,  she  drew  him  away. 

Doll's  jeering  laughter  followed  them. 

"  Pore  thing,"  Dandy  said.  "  I  've  noticed  'er 
before  to-d'y.  She  looks  a  bad  lot !  " 

His  glance  at  Pippin  was  questioning. 

"  Noticed  'er  ?  "  cried  Pippin  sharply. 

"  Noticed  'er  'anging  about !  "  he  said.  "  You 
know  'er,  then  ?  " 

Pippin  drew  her  arm  from  his.  The  joy  had 
gone,  anxiety  shone  in  her  face. 

"  Not  well.  In  fact  'ardly  at  all.  I  don't  like 
'er!" 

"  Come,  come !  "  cheered  her  lover,  seeing  her 
discomfort.  "  It 's  nothink  you  can  'elp  and  there  's 
another  thing  I  've  not  told  you,  dear.  Besides 
being  a  'oliday,  it 's  likewise  the  anniversary  of  me 
birth  —  twenty-one  years !  " 

"  Twenty-one  years !  Why,  you  're  of  age,  old 
chap !  "  cried  Pippin.  She  looked  up  into  his  face 
proudly. 

"Twenty-one  years  an  orphan,  too,"  he  said. 
"  To-day  I  mean  to  be  unusual ;  a  rare  'un !  What 
about  a  bus  to  Kew,  then  a  boat  up  the  old  river 
and  after  that  tea  in  the  garden?  Ask  the  little 
chap,  and  see !  " 

Little  Hal  having  leisurely  finished  his  bun  and 


42  PIPPIN 

glass  of  milk  at  the  dairy,  got  down  from  his  stool 
at  Pippin's  introduction  and  gave  his  hand  to  her 
young  man  with  engaging  friendliness. 

"  Now,  little  'un,"  began  Dandy  at  once,  "  it 's  for 
you  to  s'y  whether  we're  off  on  a  'oliday  or  not! 
First,  we've  a  bird  to  buy  and  christen,  then  we 
thort  of  going  on  a  bus  to  Kew !  " 

"  Pippin ! "  Little  Hal  turned  to  his  sister. 
"Really,  oh,  really?" 

"  It 's  for  you  to  s'y/'  insisted  Pippin's  young 
man. 

"Me  to  s'y?"  whispered  the  boy.  "Yes  —  oh, 
yes.  I  want  to  go  ever  so !  " 

"  Bless  'is  little  'eart ! "  murmured  the  dairy- 
keeper  as  Dandy  settled  with  her  for  his  young 
friend's  refreshment. 

They  emerged  from  the  shop,  a  gay  trio.  Dandy, 
carrying  the  bundle  and  holding  a  little  hand 
clasped  in  his,  was  the  recipient  of  a  steady,  up- 
ward, adoring  gaze  from  Hal.  Pippin  held  his 
other  hand  and  they  walked  toward  Brompton 
Road.  In  Brompton  Road  was  a  bird  fancier's. 
Here  they  entered,  to  be  received  attentively  by  a 
bearded  gentleman. 

"  Now  then !  "  demanded  Dandy,  putting  down 
the  bundle ;  "  show  us  su'think  up  to  date  in  ca- 
naries ! " 

The  bearded  one  then  went  to  the  back  of  the 
shop  and  returned  with  a  sweet  little  fluff  of  yel- 


PIPPIN  43 

low   in  a   gilt   cage,   price   ten  shillings  and  six- 
pence. 

"  Sings  like  a  nightingale,"  he  stated.  "  Sings 
like  a  nightingale,  an'  this  neat  little  cage  — " 

"  Never  you  mind  about  the  cage,"  commanded 
Pippin. 

She  turned  upon  Dandy  who  was  already  count- 
ing out  his  money. 

"  You  can't  go  lavishin'  it  about  like  that,  old 
cockalorum,  now  do  stop  to  think ! " 
Dandy  jingled  the  money  in  his  pocket. 
"  I  Ve  me  whole  month's  screw,  dear,"  he  whis- 
pered, "  and  you  're  wanting  a  suitable  bird  while 
you  're  about  it,  I  fancy." 

And  instead  of  stopping  to  think,  he  went  look- 
ing all  about  the  shop  at  the  clerk's  bidding,  for 
anything  he  liked  better,  still  jingling  his  money. 
All  unconsciously  he  was  revealing  to  Pippin  how 
much  he  needed  her.  He  must  be  continually  in 
the  way  of  temptation;  the  talkative  clerk's  sort 
was  plentiful.  A  sense  of  protective  possession 
swelled  her  little  bosom,  but  quickly  followed  the 
thought  of  her  unworthiness.  How  could  he  be- 
come hers  to  save  from  others  while  her  first  duty 
lay  in  shielding  him  from  herself,  her  past  and 
such  contaminating  acquaintances  as  Doll. 

She  summed  the  matter  up  with  the  vow,  "  Not 
till  I  'm  str'ight,  a  square  'un !  " 

She  must  have  been  employed,  have  lived  in  a 


44  PIPPIN 

good  street.  She  must  have  walked  out  with 
Dandy  properly  engaged  and  possessing  a  little 
money  of  her  own.  She  had  a  strong  sense  of 
comradeship  and  desired  to  stand  her  lover  treat 
as  well  as  to  stand  treated.  Marriage  to  her,  and 
she  had  reasoned  it  out,  was  not  a  woman's  means 
of  support ;  her  old  man  should  be  her  pal  and  they 
would  share  alike. 

Followed  by  the  grinning  clerk  and  little  Hal, 
Dandy  came  from  the  back  of  the  shop  carrying 
a  bird  in  a  modest  cage  in  place  of  the  fluff 
of  yellow  that  sang  like  a  nightingale.  With  one 
hand  to  his  heart,  bowing  before  her,  he  extended 
the  gift  gallantly. 

"  'E  's  yours,  Victoria  Alexandra,  christened  by 
me  and  little  Hal  —  Teddy!  'E  didn't  cost  too 
'igh  an'  he  's  got  some  good  notes  this  man  assures 
us,  eh,  sir  ?  " 

"  Also  I  Ve  let  it  go  very  reasonable,"  said  the 
clerk,  "  and  I  believe  it 's  to  be  sent?  " 

Pippin  gave  her  name  and  the  new  address  with 
an  important  jerk  of  head  that  nearly  dislodged  her 
fur  cap. 

"  Thank  you !  "  beamed  the  clerk. 

"  And,"  added  Pippin,  "  you  might  'ave  the  kind- 
ness to  deliver  this  bundle  along  o'  the  bird."  She 
indicated  the  roll  containing  her  entire  worldly  pos- 
sessions. "  I  'm  not  going  str'ight  off  'ome !  " 

They  hailed  a  bus  and  hoisting  little  Hal  to  his 


PIPPIN  45 

shoulder  Dandy  mounted  to  the  top  after  Pippin. 
Here  with  a  rakish  exchange  of  hats  they  began 
the  outing.  Now  and  then  the  sallow  face  of  Doll 
framed  by  untidy  hair  came  across  Pippin's  vision, 
but  quickly  passed  and  left  her  happy,  confident  of 
her  future  and  Dandy. 

They  reached  Kew  and  feasted  on  ices  and  seed 
cake.  Then  they  went  on  the  river.  It  was  Hal's 
first  time  in  a  boat.  His  joy  was  also  their  pleas- 
ure. The  wonder  in  his  eyes,  the  flush  in  his  pale, 
weary  face,  the  gentleness  of  manner  that  took  the 
place  of  his  old  peevishness  were  marked  by  Pippin. 
His  affection  for  Dandy  increased  her  own  admira- 
tion for  her  lover. 

It  was  yet  early  in  the  evening  when  Dandy 
brought  them  back  to  the  little  court.  He  viewed 
with  approval  the  house  and  the  window  of  the 
room  that  was  now  Pippin's. 

"  It 's  got  tone,  this  neighborhood  'as,"  he  agreed, 
"  an'  I  like  your  being  'ere,  dear !  " 

He  pressed  her  hand  warmly  and  at  last  loped 
away  and  left  her  as  she  had  hardly  dared  hope 
to  be,  a  resident  of  Jubilee  Court. 


CHAPTER  IV 

ISS  LAWRENCE  sat  beside  the  win- 
dow in  her  room  in  Mrs.  Penley's 
lodging-house  in  Bloomsbury  Square. 
The  letter  that  lay  half  open  in  her  lap 
she  had  read  before,  but  now  she 
went  over  it  again. 

Dearest  Girl: 

You  have  run  away  from  me.  Honestly  that  is 
all  I  can  think  of;  you  have  put  three  thousand  miles 
of  salt  water  between  us,  to  say  nothing  of  the  land- 
distance  Goshen  is  from  New  York,  where  I  should 
have  to  go  before  I  could  begin  the  voyage  to  Eng- 
land. You  see  what  I  mean,  don't  you?  If  you 
want  me,  dear  little  child,  send  for  me  —  I  will  come. 
I  was  expecting  you  when  I  got  your  letter  that  you 
had  sailed.  Oh,  Molly!  Well  I  wish  Leonora  Law- 
rence success  on  the  stage,  since  that  is  her  heart's 
desire  —  I  wish  it  in  spite  of  the  knock  it  must  give 
my  happiness.  I  see  now  how  selfish  I  have  seemed 
in  wanting  you  so  that  I  have  driven  you  away.  For- 
give me.  If  my  arms  stretch  out  across  the  sea 
yearningly  to  little  Molly,  my  admiration  goes  out  to 
you,  courageous  Miss  Leonora  Lawrence. 

Yours  always,  CHARLIE. 

46 


PIPPIN  4Jr 

She  finished  and  raised  her  eyes  to  the  familiar 
letter-head.  In  one  corner  "  Pumps  "  flared  in  red 
print,  in  the  other  "  Charles  Browne,  Manager," 
below  and  nearer  the  center,  "  Goshen,  Indiana." 
Her  look  drifted  away  over  the  little  back  garden. 
From  the  tiny  black  chimneys  smoke  was  beginning 
to  rise  in  a  softly  purple  pall  through  which  the  sun 
would  soon  burst  in  hot  splendor  to  begin  the  day. 
She  drew  back  from  the  window  and  sitting  down 
by  a  table  took  up  a  letter  she  had  begun. 

"  Dear  Charlie,"  she  had  written.  After  a  mo- 
ment she  went  on. 

You  have  probably  bought  the  papers  to  read  of 
my  fame,  and  so  discovered  what  a  fizzle  "  The  Ten- 
derfoot" has  made  here.  It  ran  only  a  week!  If 
I  were  a  manager,  I  'd  have  known  it  would  fail. 
Why,  just  the  little  while  I  've  been  here,  I  can  see 
what  the  British  Public  wants.  It  likes  American 
things,  but  it  doesn't  like  just  anything  simply  for 
being  American.  I  believe  that  some  day  I  can  write 
a  play  the  British  Public  will  like  —  some  summer 
when  I  'm  resting  on  my  laurels  of  the  season  before. 
I  thank  you  for  your  good  wishes,  Charlie  boy,  but 
I  'm  not  coming  back  for  a  while.  I  ran  away  from 
not  just  you,  but  you  in  league  with  everybody  at 
home  to  keep  me  from  my  art.  I  ran  away  from 
obstacles,  do  you  see?  I  am  looking  for  an  engage- 
ment here  now;  it  is  good  for  me.  London  is  not  a 
bit  like  New  York.  I  'm  learning  lots  of  things, 


48  PIPPIN 

among  others  not  to  talk  through  my  nose ;  the  British 
public  hates  our  talking  through  the  nose. 

Little  Goshen  must  be  very  pretty  and  green  now; 
how  are  pumps?  I  will  write  again,  but  probably  I 
shall  not  write  too  often. 

L.  L 

The  letter  finished,  she  went  back  to  the  win- 
dow. The  sun  was  out;  high  and  hot  it  began  to 
shine  over  the  housetops. 

"  Another  day ! "  she  said,  rising  and  nodding. 
"  Well,  I  'm  glad  I  have  thought  out  a  plan  for 
temporary  help  and  I  know  I  shall  get  an  engage-, 
ment  soon ! " 

Leonora  had  paced  the  floor  nearly  all  night, 
thinking,  thinking !  Her  money  was  entirely  gone. 
She  owed  three  weeks'  lodging,  and  Mrs.  Penley, 
the  landlady,  had  said  that  something  must  be  done, 
and  at  once. 

She  took  up  her  letter,  addressed  it  to  Mr. 
Charles  Browne,  Goshen,  Indiana,  and  dropped  it 
into  her  hand-bag.  From  a  drawer  of  her  bureau 
she  took  a  small  gold  cross  and  chain  and  a  ring. 
She  examined  them  critically,  then  they  too  went 
into  the  bag.  Pausing  for  a  moment,  she  stood  in 
contemplation  of  a  photograph  upon  the  corner  of 
her  bureau.  A  little  tender  smile  lifted  the  cor- 
ners of  her  mouth  and  she  murmured, 

"  Goshen  could  n't  hold  you,  dear  old  Charlie,  if 
you  knew  what  a  pickle  I  am  in ! " 


PIPPIN  49 

She  laughed  a  little.  She  began  slowly  doing 
her  hair.  Then  she  viewed  the  clothes  in  her  closet 
and  chose  a  ruffled  frock  of  pink  crepe,  a  pink  straw 
hat  and  a  pink  parasol. 

When  she  had  dressed  leisurely,  she  sat  down  at 
the  window. 

"  I  wonder  what  time  pawnshops  open  ? "  she 
said  presently. 

As  though  seeking  admittance  to  answer,  some 
one  knocked  at  her  door. 

"  Come  in,"  said  Leonora. 

It  was  Mrs.  Penley,  her  landlady. 

"  I  thought  I  heard  you,"  she  said.  "  What  have 
you  decided  to  do,  Miss  Lawrence  ?  " 

She  entered  and  closed  the  door,  then  advanced 
to  the  center  of  the  room,  adjusting  the  beribboned 
widow's  cap  she  wore  upon  her  elaborate  coiffure. 
Her  eyes  wandered  to  the  bed. 

"  Why,  have  n't  you  been  to  bed  ?     Fancy !  " 

Miss  Lawrence  returned  her  searching  gaze, 
smiled  cheerily  and  shook  her  head. 

"  No !  "  she  said.  "  I  've  been  thinking ;  almost 
all  night  I  Ve  been  thinking.  I  can  raise  some 
money.  I  'm  going  out  to  do  it  now.  Perhaps 
I  can't  get  enough  to  pay  all  I  owe  you,  but  I  can 
give  you  part  of  it.  Then,  of  course,  before  very 
much  longer  I  '11  have  an  engagement.  Even  if  it 
should  n't  be  just  what  I  want,  I  'd  take  it  for  a 
while." 
4 


50  PIPPIN 

"  Now  that  won't  do,  my  dear."  Mrs.  Penley 
frowned  in  annoyance  and  rested  her  clasped  hands 
upon  the  shiny  buckle  of  her  wide  satin  girdle. 
"  It  is  n't  certain  enough.  You  must  write  home  to 
some  of  your  people,  you  must  indeed,  or  I  can't 
keep  you  on.  I  have  a  guest  now  who  would  take 
this  room." 

"  Then  I  must  go,"  Miss  Lawrence  said,  turning 
quickly. 

"  Why  not  write  home  ? "  frowned  her  land- 
lady. 

The  answer  was  cold  and  decided.  "  I  came  to 
London  independently.  I  do  not  wish  to  ask  my 
relatives  for  money.  I  '11  pack  at  once." 

"  Unless  you  pay  me  in  full,  you  must  leave  your 
box  here,  though  I  hate  to  be  'arsh."  Mrs.  Pen- 
ley's  voice  softened  a  little. 

"  You  're  not  harsh."  Leonora  smiled  at  her 
bravely.  "  It 's  business.  You  've  been  awfully 
good  and  patient.  I  '11  do  the  best  I  can  to  settle 
with  you ;  my  gold  cross  is  n't  very  heavy,  and  the 
diamond  in  my  ring  is  small." 

Mrs.  Penley  raised  her  hands  in  protest. 

"  You  're  going  to  pledge  — " 

"  Me  jools !  "  Miss  Lawrence  laughed  lightly. 

Mrs.  Penley  backed  away  until  she  bumped  into 
the  door.  "  I  do  not  see  that  it  is  a  light  matter, 
Miss  Lawrence!  You  Americans  are  never  seri- 
ous, now,  are  you  ?  " 


PIPPIN  51 

"  It 's  awfully  tough  luck,  Mrs.  Penley,"  Leonora 
said  then,  very  seriously,  "  but  while  I  did  not 
expect  to  stay  and  get  into  debtors'  prison  over 
here,  as  I  seem  about  to  do,  I  did  not  expect  to 
find  several  leading  parts  immediately  offered  me 
either,  so  I  'm  not  disappointed." 

She  took  the  photograph  from  the  bureau  and 
after  a  moment  of  indecision,  thrust  it  into  her 
hand-bag. 

"  I  'm  not  a  bit  discouraged,"  she  announced. 
"  I  Ve  never  yet  heard  of  any  real  great  emotional 
actress,  who  did  not  go  through  hard  luck,  have 
you?  It 's  the  making  of  them." 

Mrs.  Penley  rattled  the  knob  to  show  her  dis- 
taste of  the  subject;  also  that  she  was  going. 

"  It  '11  do  me  good,"  Leonora  added  with  sharp 
emphasis.  "  It  will  bring  me  out.  They  say  mis- 
fortune does,  and  I  know  I  Ve  got  something  in 
me." 

She  pressed  her  slim  hands  to  her  breast  and 
turned  a  face  of  glowing  courage  to  the  retreating 
form.  There  came  back  to  her  the  plaintive 
words : 

"  I  must  say  I  hope  you  '11  pay  me." 

"  Please  trust  me,  Mrs.  Penley !  "  Leonora  threw 
earnestly  after  her  creditor. 

She  ran  to  the  door  to  make  sure  of  being  heard. 
On  the  landing  huddled  the  housemaid.  Her  heavy 
face  was  full  of  sympathy  and  fear  for  this  young 


52  PIPPIN 

lady  whom  she  liked.  Leonora  went  back  to  her 
trunk,  searching  among  the  trinkets  in  the  top  tray 
and,  seizing  upon  a  turquoise-studded  back  comb, 
rushed  out  and  forced  it  into  the  hardened  little 
hands. 

"  With  Miss  Lawrence's  best  wishes,  Phcebe," 
she  whispered. 

"  Oh,  miss,  must  you  go  out  in  the  streets  ?  I  'd 
do  anything  for  you ! "  Leonora  pressed  the  girl's 
hands  and  turned  away.  Just  now  she  feared  sym- 
pathy. 

She  quickly  packed  her  belongings,  locked  the 
trunk  and  snatching  up  parasol  and  gloves  thrust 
her  arm  through  the  handle  of  her  bag,  and  hurried 
from  the  room.  As  she  opened  the  vestibule  door, 
Mrs.  Penley  came  out  of  her  sitting-room. 

"  There  's  the  Y.  W.  C.  A.  you  can  go  to,  Miss 
Lawrence,"  she  said  kindly,  "  and  do  arrange  to 
settle  with  me  soon ;  I  've  been  very  unbusinesslike 
with  you." 

"  You  '11  never  be  sorry !  "  Miss  Lawrence  called 
earnestly.  "  I  will  bring  you  back  something  to- 
day, whatever  I  can  manage." 

She  crossed  the  road  and  stopped,  looking  over 
the  iron  paling  into  the  shady  square.  She  felt 
suddenly  faint.  She  remembered  then  that  except 
for  a  cup  of  tea  and  a  biscuit  she  had  eaten  nothing 
at  all  the  day  before. 

"  I  can't  go  in  and  rest,"  she  said  weakly,  "  for 


PIPPIN  '53 

now  I  'm  only  Mrs.  Penley's  ex-lodger,  and  I  have 
no  gate  key." 

She  slowly  moved  on.  It  was  very  warm  and  the 
faintness  did  not  go  away.  She  could  not  remem- 
ber to  have  seen  any  loan-shops  nearer  than  those 
in  the  Strand,  so  she  followed  Southampton  Row 
to  Bow  Street  and  thence  to  a  little  shop  the  win- 
dows of  which  sometimes  displayed  old  jewels. 
But,  reaching  the  place,  the  sight  of  it  quite  sud- 
denly and  unaccountably  sickened  her.  To  enter 
and  barter  away  her  gold  cross  and  ring!  It 
seemed  sacrilege.  For  the  moment,  she  could  not 
go  in.  A  little  farther  down,  just  off  the  Strand, 
were  Temple  Gardens;  she  could  go  there  and  re- 
cover her  courage.  Then  she  would  return. 

All  along  the  busy  Strand  quick-lunch  places  ex- 
hibited placarded  invitations  to  hurried  American 
tourists.  The  small  shops  displayed  umbrellas, 
gloves,  handkerchiefs  and  silk  hosiery,  doubtless 
especially  attractive,  to  Americans.  Buzzing  like 
bees  in  clover,  dipping  from  one  shop  into  another, 
they  met  and  compared  loudly,  humorously  their 
purchases.  It  was  a  gaily  commercial  crowd. 
Pretty  women  joyful  at  seeing  and  being  seen 
passed,  with  Baedekers  under  their  arms.  From 
tally-hos,  taxis  and  motors  they  gazed  with  de- 
vouring eager  eyes  upon  the  city.  None  of  them 
were  in  Leonora's  plight.  But  her  head  raised 
quickly  at  the  thought.  She  would  have  changed 


54  PIPPIN 

places  with  none  of  them.  Everything  she  suf- 
fered now  would  tell  in  future.  When  her  Oppor- 
tunity came  she  would  have  lived.  She  welcomed 
her  suffering.  She  asked  only  that  no  one  need 
suffer  with  her.  Then  she  thought  of  Charlie 
Browne  back  home  in  Goshen.  Still  he  loved  not 
only  her,  but  making  money  as  well.  He  was  get- 
ting rich.  He  would  forget  her.  Suddenly  Le- 
onora felt  that  she  did  not  want  him  to  forget  her. 
He  might  remember  her  as  a  friend,  as  something 
dear  he  had  sacrificed  upon  the  Altar  of  Art.  This 
would,  she  reflected,  develop  the  fineness  in  him. 
It  would  inspire  her.  She  turned  into  Temple  Gar- 
dens and  stumbling  to  a  seat,  dropped  weakly  down, 
her  strength  suddenly  giving  out. 

"When  the  clock  strikes  again,"  she  murmured, 
"  I  '11  go  back.  I  've  got  to.  I  've  promised  Mrs. 
Penley.  Besides  I  Ve  got  to  eat.  I  'm  —  I  'm 
hungry! " 


CHAPTER  V 

j]  0 U  'LL  get  put  out  of  the  Court! "  It 
was  a  tormenting  little  voice  thump- 
ing away  within  Pippin's  weary  body. 
Two  days  she  had  spent  in  ardent 
search  of  employment,  something 
that  would  permit  her  to  sleep  at  home,  for  she 
loved  the  domestic  privacy  of  her  own  room.  She 
had  got  into  the  Court  by  a  misrepresentation. 
She  hoped  to  efface  the  profane  memory  of  this, 
remove  all  necessity  for  further  misdealing  by 
proving  her  own  character.  This  could  only  be 
achieved  by  prompt  payment  on  rent  days. 

She  must  have  employment  then,  sufficiently  re- 
munerative to  pay  her  rent,  and  Hal's  moderate 
expense  in  the  country  where  he  had  gone  with  Mrs. 
Crimmins's  Sally,  and  also  to  supply  herself  with 
a  holiday  outfit  and  a  little  spending-money.  Pip- 
pin scorned  the  drudgery  of  slavey  or  scullery- 
maid;  she  desired  something  that  would  not  take 
away  dignity  or  freedom,  something  akin  to  Dan- 
dy's position  of  responsibility,  of  which  he  told  her 
a  good  deal.  Toxall  suitable  newspaper  advertise- 

55 


56  PIPPIN 

ments  she  had  responded  diligently,  and  now  she 
hurried  through  a  fashionable  part  in  which  a  resi- 
dent desired  a  "  second  help  to  sleep  out,"  having 
stated  the  fact  in  the  morning  Telegraph. 

This  had  seemed  acceptable  as  a  beginning.  She 
had  come  to  the  place  hopefully,  only  to  be  turned 
sorrowfully  away. 

"  Makin'  up  yer  mind  to  go  str'ight  's  not  all 
there  is  to  it,"  she  bitterly  reflected.  "  'Ave  you 
got  a  character,  gal!  Where  was  you  last  em- 
ployed ?  "  she  mimicked.  "  You  can't  expect  to  be 
engiged  without  a  character  now,  can  yer ! " 

She  laughed;  it  was  an  ugly  little  sneer.  But 
she  had  tried  hard.  Forces  too  strong  to  with- 
stand seemed  beating  her  back  to  old  habits.  It 
might  be  easiest  to  give  up!  With  her  weakness 
came  a  faintly  insidious  craving.  She  looked 
about.  But  this  was  not  a  neighborhood  for 
"  pubs  " !  She  walked  on.  If  she  did  take  a  drop, 
especially  a  drop  too  much,  and  went  back  to  Ju- 
bilee Court  —  it  would  be  the  end. 

She  turned  and  shook  a  fist  at  the  house  that  had 
rejected  her  services.  Savage  resentment  burned 
within  her.  She  yearned  to  be  honest  —  how  she 
longed  for  it ! 

She  counted  off  the  places  she  had  applied  for. 
Fifteen  in  two  days.  She  looked  down  at  her  boot 
that  had  given  way  from  the  hard  wear  of  her  long 
walks.  The  possible  openings  had  been,  it  seemed, 


PIPPIN  57 

at  the  four  corners  of  London.     She  began  to  sing, 
rakishly. 

"  I  likes  society,  real  society,  'igh  society." 

She  kept  along  without  definite  purpose,  but 
drifted  surely  toward  old  haunts.  She  would  not 
indulge  the  craving,  but  a  few  minutes  among  the 
shoppers  might  be  amusingly  and  profitably  spent. 
Pippin  knew  about  pockets;  getting  at  what  they 
contained  was  a  talent.  She  had  that  talent.  Yes ! 
She  excelled  Doll  who  had  taught  her,  and  Doll's 
Harry,  and  Kitty!  Kitty  was  Harry's  sister;  all 
of  them  were  in  "  the  profession." 

Harry  ran  big  risks,  robbing  houses  and  shops 
and  had  to  lie  low  for  days  and  weeks,  some- 
times. Doll  was  lazy,  besides  a  bad  heart  that  flut- 
tered, and  Kitty  seldom  exerted  herself  because  of 
over  fondness  for  gin.  They  had  been  proud  of 
Pippin. 

She  finally  came  into  the  Strand,  where  she 
slackened  her  gait.  It  was  a  very  warm  day  and 
after  her  efforts  for  honest  employment,  she  was 
tired.  At  Temple  Gardens  she  turned  in.  She 
would  wait  a  while  and  rest. 

A  few  people  were  walking  about,  but  a  slim 
form  in  a  fluff  of  pink,  sitting  upon  a  bench,  at 
once  caught  her  eye.  Pippin  loved  pink.  She 
could  not  see  the  face  that  was  shaded  beneath  the 
drooping  rose-laden  hat.  She  made  a  slow  detour 


58  PIPPIN 

and  brought  up  at  the  side  of  the  occupant  of  the 
seat.  There  she  dropped  on  to  the  bench. 

The  lady  in  pink  turned  and  looked.  Then  she 
bent  her  cheek  to  her  hand  again.  The  back  of 
her  head  with  its  coils  of  fair  hair  was  toward 
Pippin,  while  her  face  was  half  hidden.  Pippin's 
black  eyes  narrowed  as  they  traveled  nearsight- 
edly, but  with  admiration  from  the  hair  on  down 
to  the  soft  stuff  of  the  pink  bodice ;  she  noted  a  tiny 
button  that  had  missed  its  loop,  and  she  counted 
the  flounces  from  the  waist,  down  to  the  shiny 
patent-leather  toe.  The  lady's  gloved  hand  was 
thrust  languidly  outward  upon  the  seat  and  from 
it  trailed  a  hand-bag  on  a  silken  cord. 

Pippin  darted  a  quick  look  around.  Covering 
the  bag  with  a  corner  of  her  own  frock,  her  hand 
groped  and,  slipping  the  catch  of  the  bag,  told  as 
well  as  her  eyes  could  have  done  what  it  contained ; 
letters,  a  photograph,  toilet  necessities,  keys;  a 
cross  and  chain  and  a  ring,  but  no  money.  Pippin 
transferred  the  jewelry  to  her  own  pocket  and 
closed  the  bag.  Obviously  the  pretty  person  in 
pink  was  without  money;  it  was  possibly  the  rea- 
son for  her  silent  dejection. 

After  a  few  moments  of  waiting,  Pippin  gave  a 
loud  yawn.  The  lady  started.  She  rose,  swayed 
forward,  rested  upon  her  parasol.  Then  with  a 
quick  hard  breath  of  resolution,  she  walked  away. 
Her  young  neighbor  of  the  bench  rose  also  and  fol- 


PIPPIN  59 

lowed  slowly.  She  was  such  a  pretty  young 
woman  and  Pippin  wished  to  see  where  she 
went. 

As  she  had  promised  herself,  Leonora  returned 
to  the  pawnshop.  She  decided  to  save  delay  and 
have  the  things  in  her  hand  as  she  entered,  so  she 
stopped  before  the  window,  opened  the  bag  and 
slipped  her  hand  in.  Fumbling  for  a  moment,  she 
peered  into  it  closely;  she  drew  out  the  letter  and 
photograph,  and  looked  again.  The  cross  and 
chain  and  ring  were  gone!  She  pressed  forward 
against  the  window-pane,  gripping  her  parasol  for 
support,  striving  not  to  fall  in  the  blackness  that 
suddenly  enveloped  her. 

A  hand  closed  on  her  arm,  an  arm  slipped  round 
her,  strong  and  supporting.  She  leaned  upon  it 
and  opened  her  eyes.  It  was  the  little  girl  in  the 
fur  cap,  who  had  sat  beside  her  on  the  bench  in 
Temple  Gardens.  She  closed  her  eyes  again! 

"Buck  up,  Miss!" 

She  felt  herself  led  forward.  The  guiding  hand 
was  kind,  the  cheery  voice  friendly,  urging  her  to 
each  step.  She  found  herself  in  a  bus;  she  felt  it 
moving  with  a  cumbersome,  jolting  motion.  There 
was  a  soft  dabbing  and  fanning  of  a  handkerchief 
upon  her  forehead ;  it  soothed  her  and  kept  her 
dimly  conscious.  The  jolting  continued  with 
frequent  short  stops  and  a  man's  voice  calling  the 
streets. 


60  PIPPIN 

Then  she  was  urged  again  by  a  kindly  voice  to 
"  buck  up,"  to  "  take  it  easy."  She  tried  bravely. 
She  groped  through,  out  of  the  omnibus,  walked  a 
few  steps,  climbed  some  stairs,  entered  a  doorway 
and  knew  no  more. 

Leonora  opened  her  eyes  under  the  weight  of  a 
cool  wet  towel.  She  pushed  the  towel  away. 
There  was  a  blur  of  pink  walls,%and  then  appeared 
a  short  figure,  and  a  hat  —  with  roses  —  a  big  pink 
hat!  It  was  her  own  hat,  Leonora  finally  made 
out,  on  the  head  of  the  girl,  who  had  helped  her. 
The  girl  stood  before  a  small.mirror  topping  a  chest 
of  drawers  in  the  corner,  looking  at  herself.  She 
finally  took  the  hat  off  carefully,  and  turned  away 
from  the  glass. 

"  It  needs  golden  'air !  "  she  admitted  regretfully. 

Her  dejection  in  the  matter  caused  the  lady  on 
the  bed  to  laugh  weakly. 

"  Oh,  Miss !  "  gasped  Pippin. 

She  bobbed  across  the  room  out  of  view,  a  clat- 
tering of  dishes  followed  and  quickly  the  welcome 
aroma  of  tea  close  at  hand  came  to  Leonora.  Her 
trembling  hand  reached  for  the  cup. 

The  girl  held  it  while  Leonora  sipped  gratefully. 
"  A  bit  o'  bread  too,"  suggested  Pippin.  Leonora 
ate  the  "  bit "  and  lay  back  refreshed. 

"  You  're  awfully  good,"  she  murmured. 

Her  hostess  did  not  reply  at  once. 

"  Bit  o'  luck,"  she  said,  turning  round  to  gaze  at 


PIPPIN  61 

the  walls,  "  me  getting  this  pretty  room.  Ain't  the 
pink  paper  fresh  and  sweet,  Miss ;  I  fancy  it  no  end 
myself!" 

"  I  love  pink,  too,"  said  Leonora. 

"  It  suits  you  with  your  golden  'air."  Pippin 
looked  around  at  the  "  'air,"  but  meeting  the  eyes 
of  her  guest  turned  away  again  shyly. 

She  went  to  the  bird-cage  hanging  in  the  window 
and  poked  a  finger  between  the  bars.  Her  man- 
ner was  not  that  of  one  given  to  shyness.  It 
seemed  a  temporary  embarrassment. 

"  I  'm  all  right  now,"  Leonora  said,  sitting  up, 
"  and  I  can  be  going." 

"Going  'ome,  Miss?"  Pippin  asked,  though  she 
felt  certain  the  lady  somehow  had  no  home,  just 
now. 

Leonora  herself  counted  all  the  pink  ruffles  of  her 
skirt  and  reaching  the  bottom  and  discovering  that 
her  shoes  had  been  removed  wiggled  her  stock- 
inged toes  thoughtfully. 

"  No,"  she  said,  "  I  have  n't  any  home." 

"  Don't  worrit,  Miss,"  urged  her  hostess.  "  Stop 
the  night  'ere ;  stop  till  you  finds  yerself.  It 's  odd 
me  f eelin'  so  keen  about  'aving  this  neat  room ;  I  've 
just  moved  in,  y'  know." 

"  Then  you  live  alone,"  Miss  Lawrence  said. 

"  Oh,  yes,  quite! "  came  the  answer.  "  Me  name 
is  —  well,  I  'm  called  Pippin  because  of  these,"  she 
touched  at  each  hard  red  cheek,  "  but  I  was  chris- 


62  PIPPIN 

tened  for  Their  Majesties  —  Victoria  Alexandra, 
proper ! " 

"  I  like  Pippin,"  smiled  the  guest;  "  it  goes  with 
your  lovely  complexion." 

Pippin  grinned  and  wiped  a  careless  hand  across 
the  asset,  thereby  proving  that  it  was  not  remov- 
able. 

"  You  ain't  London,"  she  said. 

"  Goshen,  Indiana,  U.  S.  A. !  " 

Pippin  smiled.  The  American  accent  always 
amused  her. 

"  I  knew  you  came  from  the  States,"  she  said. 
"  I  can  always  tell  'em." 

"  My  name  is  Lawrence ;  Miss  Leonora  Law- 
rence ! " 

This  intelligence  brought  a  broader  smile  and  a 
soft  sigh  of  satisfaction. 

"  I  am  an  actress !  " 

A  little  gasping  whisper,  "  Oh,  Miss,  I  s'y,  not 
reely?" 

Pippin  stood  in  a  transport  of  joy  before  the 
celebrity  she  had  harbored  unawares. 

"  An  actress,  Miss ;  'ow  wonderful  for  me !  " 

The  actress,  oblivious  of  the  awe  she  inspired, 
tied  her  shoe  and  observing  her  bag  hanging  upon 
a  chair-back  rose  and  went  to  it  and  with  the  look 
of  one  who  still  cannot  believe  what  is  perfectly 
known,  opened  it,  looked  expectantly  into  it,  then 
exclaimed;  peered  closer,  slipped  her  hand  in  and 


63 

drew  out  the  cross  and  chain  and  ring.  She  stood 
staring,  holding  them  out  to  her  little  friend. 

"  Ho,  there  you  are  then,  Miss,"  Pippin  said 
brightening  hopefully.  "  You  can  put  in  things  o' 
that  sort  and  get  a  bit  o'  money ;  you  'ad  n't  thought 
of  it,  'ad  you?" 

"  Why,  I  was  going  to  pawn  them  and  then  I 
looked  and  they  were  gone — " 

"  You  came  over  ill,  Miss,"  reminded  Pippin ; 
"  they  could  n't  'a'  been  gone !  You  did  n't  see 
them  is  the  w'y  of  it.  I  've  been  took  that  bad  of 
a  sudden — " 

Words  ceased  to  flow  although  the  agile  move- 
ment of  jaw  continued;  her  eyes  became  round, 
black,  sharp  with  sudden  fear  as  she  stared  into 
the  calm  gaze  that  fixed  her. 

"  You  sat  beside  me  in  Temple  Gardens,"  Leo- 
nora said. 

"  An'  saw  'ow  ill  you  was,"  added  Pippin  sym- 
pathetically. "  You  could  stop  the  night,  Miss  — 
I  'd  do  anythink  to  make  you  comfortable.  I  've  a 
nightie  to  lend  yer  —  after  all  you  've  got  to  stop 
some  plice,  'ave  n't  you,  and  the  room  is  'ere  an' 
welcome." 

"Do  you  work?"  Leonora  asked. 

"  Profession  of  lady's  maid."  The  reply  came 
breathlessly  prompt.  "  I  'm  off  on  a  bit  of  a  fur- 
lough." 

Leonora  restrained  angrily  rebuking  this  fluency. 


64  PIPPIN 

There  was  something  pitiable  about  it.  But  her 
resentment  was  keen.  She  had  been  the  victim  of 
this  girl  who  clearly  was  —  a  thief !  Distaste,  then 
fear,  crept  over  Leonora. 

She  turned  quickly  to  the  window,  demanding: 

"  What  street  is  this,  please  ?  " 

"  Jubilee  Court,  Miss ;  old  Chelsea,  S.  W." 

Pippin  understood  her  position  exactly.  She 
crept  with  her  cat-like  stride  nearer  her  visitor. 
Her  look  and  tone  were  pathetic,  supplicating. 

"  We  all  'ave  our  bit  o'  trouble  one  time  or  an- 
other; it  do  drive  to  desperation  too."  Then  turn- 
ing away,  she  whispered,  "  I  'd  broke  off  from  what 
I  used  to  do  —  d'  yer  see,  Miss  Lawrence?  But 
then  I  could  n't  get  a  berth  with  all  I  tried  ever  so !  " 
She  wrung  her  hands  before  the  silent  and  out- 
raged lady. 

"  Anybody  could  slip  up,  and  not  mean  to  — 
couldn't  they?"  she  pleaded;  "once,  like?  Then 
'ate  they  'd  done  it  and  never  would  again  —  what, 
Miss?  Oh,"  she  burst  out,  "  I  've  got  to  be  trusted 
like,  can't  yer  understand  ?  " 

Leonora  stood  watching  her,  thinking. 

Pippin  thought  too,  shrewdly.  Only  clean 
money  paid  a  lady's  room  rent. 

"  Stop  along  o'  me,  Miss,"  she  still  invited. 
"  The  rent  is  paid  from  a  bit  o'  extra  charing  I  got, 
lucky  like ! "  The  lie  stung  her  a  little.  She 
cried  out :  "  Give  us  a  chanct !  The  caretaker, 


PIPPIN  65 

Mrs.  Crimmins,  does  n't  know  me ;  I  've  little 
more  'n  just  come,  I  wants  to  stay  and  with 
you  'ere  — !  " 

Something  looked  from  Pippin's  eyes,  perhaps 
the  spirit  of  the  girl  she  wanted  to  be  —  and  Leo- 
nora surely  saw  the  better  self.  Her  offer  was 
friendship  that  would  atone  for  her  crime.  And 
the  admission  that  a  trusting  presence  would  aid 
her  spiritually  and  materially.  Then  too,  she 
need  n't  have  put  back  the  jewels  in  the  bag  —  and 
when  she  had  them  she  could  have  deserted  her 
victim  there  in  the  street.  Yet  for  a  moment 
longer,  Leonora  wavered.  But  where  could  she 
go?  And  if  her  staying  helped  Pippin  —  if  they 
could  help  each  other! 

"  I  will  stay !  "  she  said  resolutely. 

For  a  long  time  the  two  looked  into  each  other's 
eyes. 

"  I  will  trust  you,"  she  promised. 

A  little  moan  of  joy  escaped  Pippin. 

"I  am  in  a  difficulty,"  Miss  Lawrence  after  a 
moment  confided  solemnly.  "  It  is  only  tempo- 
rary. In.  the  profession,"  she  spoke  it  proudly, 
"  there  are  many  ups  and  downs,  but  nearly  all 
really  great  actresses  have  had  their  hardships  and 
I  expect  to  bear  mine.  They  will  help  me  to  my 
goal!" 

"  Do  they,  Miss  ?  "  eagerly  asked  Pippin. 

"  You  see,"  Leonora  explained,  "  there  are  many 

5 


66  PIPPIN 

drawbacks  for  an  American  actress  in  London,  the 
first  being  an  American  accent.  Now  my  accent 
is  pronounced." 

"  Yes,  Miss,"  agreed  Pippin,  "  it  is  that!  " 

"  Mercy !  even  you  — " 

"  Well,  Miss,  I  knows  the  accent,  you  see.  I  've 
been  a  good  bit  about  the  West  End  and  parts 
Americans  haunts  and  I  know  'em ! "  Suddenly 
she  stopped. 

Miss  Lawrence  thought  she  understood,  but  she 
said  simply: 

"  Perhaps  you  can  help  me,  Pippin,  to  overcome 
my  difficulty." 

"  'Elp  yer,  oh,  Miss,  I  'd  do  anythink  for  you ! 
I  '11  tip  you  off  every  d'y  about  the  American  talk 
—  though  I  must  s'y  I  loves  it.  It  does  make  me 
larf ,  it 's  quite  comic  enough  for  the  theater !  " 

Miss  Lawrence  forgot  her  reserve  for  the  mo- 
ment in  amusement.  She  laughed. 

"What  must  it  seem  to  Toby  Hamilton?" 

"  Toby  'Amilton  ?  "  questioned  Pippin. 

"  Toby  Hamilton,"  repeated  Miss  Lawrence  rev- 
erently ;  "  monarch  of  all  he  surveys." 

"  A  king,  like,"  murmured  Pippin,  with  a  glance 
at  her  monarch  hanging  over  the  mantel  beside  his 
queen. 

"  Yes,"  smiled  the  lady,  musing ;  "  Mr.  Hamilton 
is  quite  kinglike.  In  his  monarchy  are  leading 
ladies,  leading  playwrights  —  nothing  but  leading 


PIPPIN  67 

things!"  She  was  apparently  started  on  her  fa- 
vorite subject  and  addressed  herself  to  the  por- 
trait of  King  Edward.  "  He  can  scent  out  a 
promising  playwright  —  oh,  miles  off.  He  ferrets 
out  ability  in  a  girl  that  even  she  herself  is  not 
aware  of  having!  By  a  word  or  a  look  from  him, 
she  becomes  a  leading-something,  according  to  her 
temperament  which  he  always  understands!  He 
likes  the  American  temperament,  but  our  accent! 
He  raves  and  tears  his  hair  over  the  American 
accent ! " 

"  I  'd  keep  aw'y  from  'im,  Miss !  "  advised  Pip- 
pin. 

"  Away  from  him !  I  've  never  even  seen  him ! 
I  'd  give  five,  well  —  one  year  of  my  life  for  a  real 
interview,  a  heart-to-heart  talk  with  him.  I  've 
written,  he  does  n't  answer.  He  could  place  me  on 
the  road  to  Fame,  to-morrow ! " 

"  My  word !  "  Pippin  remarked. 

Miss  Lawrence  turned  toward  the  canary's  cage 
and  stood  watching  Teddy  thoughtfully. 

"  I  wonder  if  I  have  been  too  sure  of  myself," 
she  mused,  a  new  view  of  things  slowly  taking 
shape  in  her  mind.  "  I  should  not  have  held  out 
for  leading  parts.  Why  did  n't  I  take  a  small  part  ? 
I  could  have  had  that  Now  I  shall  have  to  take 
anything  and  lucky  to  get  it.  I  will  borrow  what 
money  I  can  on  my  jewelry,"  she  added.  "  Is  there 
any  place  near  ?  " 


68  PIPPIN 

"  Solomon's,"  Pippin  said  quickly.  "  Shall  I 
'ave  it  round  to  'im  ?  " 

Miss  Lawrence  looked  hard  at  her,  then  took  the 
articles  from  her  bag  and  wrapped  them  in  a  hand- 
kerchief. 

"  I  'm  back  in  two  twos !  "  Pippin  promised 
meaningly. 

"  If  there 's  anything  needed  for  our  supper," 
added  the  young  lady,  feeling  suddenly  the  very 
normal  pangs  of  hunger  and  looking  round, 
"  please  buy  it  out  of  what  you  get !  " 

Striking  at  her  cap  Pippin  departed. 


CHAPTER  VI 

EONORA  looked  round  the  room  cu- 
riously. It  was  of  good  size,  the 
ceiling  low  and  slanting.  Between  it 
and  the  walls  the  little  windows  that 
were  so  wedged  in  they  seemed 
cheated  of  their  rights,  opened  outward  upon 
hinges.  Along  the  narrow  casements  a  bright 
green  window-box  fitted,  filled  with  blossoming 
geraniums  and  a  profusion  of  trailing  green.  She 
leaned  out,  looking  down  into  the  prim  little  court. 
The  residents  she  judged  middle-class  working 
people,  but  of  peace  and  cleanliness  they  might 
boast.  Some  children  played  in  the  narrow  cement 
space  between  the  pavements  for  almost  no  traffic 
came  down  Jubilee  Court.  From  the  King's  Road 
sounded  the  rumble  of  omnibuses,  the  snort  of 
motor-buses.  She  could  catch  a  glimpse  of  them 
passing  at  the  corner,  yet  how  secluded  the  little 
street  seemed.  Looking  the  other  way  she  saw 
the  private  square  and  houses  with  their  green 
doors  and  heavy  knockers,  and  felt  suddenly  glad 
of  this  temporary  haven.  Of  course  something 
better  would  soon  turn  up.  Meantime  she  drew  a 

69 


70  PIPPIN 

long  breath  of  relief,  at  the  prospect  of  light  rent 
and  simple  economy.  And  adventure  still  thrilled 
her,  excitingly  contrasting  with  prosaic  Goshen. 

She  turned  back  to  the  room.  In  the  corner  near 
the  window  stood  a  chest  of  drawers.  A  heart- 
shaped  pincushion  usefully  ornamented  the  center. 
Each  drawer  had  large  glass  handles.  Above  hung 
a  small  mirror.  The  bed  was  set  against  the  wall. 
At  its  head  there  was  a  wardrobe  freshly  varnished. 
Three  chairs,  a  center  table  with  a  plain  white  tea- 
set,  odd  cups,  a  wooden  bread-plate,  emptied  but 
for  crumbs  and  bread-knife  upon  it,  was  all  of  the 
real  furnishings.  The  floor  was  bare  except  for  a 
small  square  of  carpet  before  the  bed.  The  fire- 
place at  the  end  of  the  room  was  used  for  cooking, 
the  kettle  swung  from  a  crane.  Leonora  moved 
nearer  the  mantelshelf  to  view  the  ornaments.  A 
jar  for  flowers  stood  at  either  end.  Round  the 
tops  of  them  was  alliteratively  inscribed,  "  A  Me- 
mento of  Margate." 

Beside  the  chimney,  a  cupboard  was  built,  with 
shelves;  coals  and  kindling  —  a  nearly  vanished 
supply  —  upon  the  lower  one.  On  the  next,  cook- 
ing utensils  and  a  penny  package  of  tea. 

Their  Majesties  the  King  and  Queen  of  England 
hung  in  gilt  frames  over  the  mantelshelf.  A  pic- 
ture of  Lord  Kitchener,  cut  from  a  newspaper,  hung 
over  the  bed.  His  mustachios  had  been  smeared 
with  ink  by  some  frivolous  hand  and  this  irrever- 


PIPPIN  71 

ence  remained  undiscovered  by  the  nearsighted  Pip- 
pin and  Mrs.  Crimmins,  who  had  never  viewed  the 
picture  with  glasses. 

Leonora  opened  the  door  to  a  polite  knock  and 
stood  confronted  by  a  plump  face  set  off  by  a  coif- 
fure of  wondrous  red. 

"Ah,"  breathed  the  visitor  with  glowing  satis- 
faction, gazing  at  Leonora.  She  brought  her 
bouncing  person  into  the  room.  "  You  'ave  come ! 
I  'm  Mrs.  Crimmins,  caretaker  of  the  street,"  the 
woman  went  on.  "  Are  you  comfortable,  do  you 
think?" 

"  I  think  the  little  room  is  just  dear,"  Leonora 
said  honestly. 

"  Then  that 's  awright,"  breathed  Mrs.  Crimmins 
with  a  smile.  "  Luggage  comin'  on?  " 

"Later,"  Leonora  said. 

"  Later  of  course,"  Mrs.  Crimmins  answered 
with  a  satisfied  glance  at  Leonora  and  turned  her 
attention  to  the  bed.  "  It 's  a  good  bed ;  the  young 
person  Raymond  —  your  maid  I  mean  —  tells  me 
she  'as  sheets." 

"  The  bed  looks  comfortable,"  Leonora  mur- 
mured. "Won't  you  sit  down,  Mrs.  Crimmins? 
Pippin,"  she  suddenly  recalled  the  name,  "  has  gone 
out  to  —  to  market." 

"  That 's  the  w'y,"  cheered  Mrs.  Crimmins,  "  an' 
I  am  glad  you  're  pleased  with  everythink.  You  '11 
send  right  down  to  me  if  they  's  a  thing  you  want 


72  PIPPIN 

after  the  young  person  goes  out  to-noit,  won't 
you?" 

Leonora  echoed.     "Goes  out  to-night?" 

"  Out,  yes,  Miss,  or  is  she  sleeping  'ere  to-noit  ?  " 

"  Oh,"  Leonora  said  firmly,  "  I  shall  have  her 
stay  with  me." 

"Of  course,  as  you  like." 

Mrs.  Crimmins  rose  from  the  chair  she  had 
taken. 

"  I  'm  'appy  now  I  met  the  young  person's  terms 
of  four  bob  the  week,  instead  of  five  and  six  for  the 
room.  I  likes  a  lady  about,  even  at  cheaper  rent." 

"  The  price  is  satisfactory,"  said  Leonora.  She 
looked  round  her  thoughtfully.  "It  seems  about 
right." 

"  Then  that 's  awright,"  Mrs.  Crimmins  beamed. 

She  raised  her  finger  with  the  sudden  trill  of  a 
flute  across  the  street.  "  She  p'ys  reg'lar !  "  Mrs. 
Crimmins  murmured,  beating  time. 

Leonora  sat  down  upon  the  bed,  smoothing  the 
ruffles  of  her  frock.  Pippin  had  said  her  rent  was 
paid. 

Mrs.  Crimmins  came  nearer  and  likewise  smooth- 
ing her  frock  and  the  clean  apron  over  it,  spoke 
with  confession. 

"  When  I  let  this  room  to  the  young  person,  I  'd 
a  feeling  it  was  awright  an'  two  minutes  arterward, 
the  money  in  me  'and  too,  I  'd  another  feeling,  it 
was  n't.  I  thort  she  'd  deceived  me." 


PIPPIN  73 

"  Oh,  Pippin  would  n't  do  that,"  Leonora  said 
quickly. 

"  Why,  no,  'ere  you  are! " 

She  drew  away  a  few  paces  and  with  critical  yet 
approving  stare  inspected  Miss  Lawrence  from  head 
to  foot.  She  wheeled  suddenly  and  pointed  at  a 
wide  shelf  on  the  opposite  wall. 

"  Nails  and  some  thickish  butter-muslin  I  've  got 
a  bit  of,  does  it,"  she  said. 

"  Does  what  ?  "  inquired  Leonora. 

"  Curtaings  off  a  place  there  into  a  bedroom  for 
your  young  person  since  she  's  to  stop,  and  I  've  a 
box' that  '11  mike  'er  a  bed.  She  's  fortunite  in  her 
limbs,  'er  coffin  won't  be  a  big  expense  to  her! 
'Ad  her  long?" 

"  No,"  answered  Leonora. 

"  But  no  doubt  she  does  for  you  right  as  rain," 
speculated  Mrs.  Crimmins. 

Did  for  her!  Leonora  smiled.  Certainly  Pip- 
pin had  done  well  for  Leonora  Lawrence. 

"  Now,"  said  Mrs.  Crimmins,  "  with  that  bit 
curtained  off  for  a  bedroom,  which  it  '11  also  make 
a  place  to  barth,  the  rest  'ere  can  be  the  droring- 
room  like,  what  ?  " 

"  That  will  be  very  nice,"  nodded  Leonora. 

Mrs.  Crimmins  winked  and  nodded. 

"  Mystery  's  always  been  in  this  room,"  she  said, 
"  and  mystery  always  will  be.  I  like  the  feel  of  it 
round  me,  knowing  it  '11  all  come  out  right  like, 


74  PIPPIN 

when  we  gets  four  balls  o'  worsted  for  a  penny,  as 
the  s'ying  is !  " 

"  Won't  you  sit  down  ?  "  Leonora  invited  again, 
not  knowing  what  to  do  with  Mrs.  Crimmins.  She 
hurried  to  remove  her  chamois  bag  which  lay  open 
upon  a  chair;  the  contents  slid  to  the  floor, 
and  the  visitor,  flesh  notwithstanding,  sprang  for- 
ward, and  while  Leonora  recovered  her  letters  Mrs. 
Crimmins  captured  the  photograph. 

"  Ah !  "  she  cried,  turning  it  over.  "  May  I  be 
so  bold  as  to  'ave  a  look  ?  " 

Without  waiting  for  a  reply,  she  applied  her 
apron  to  an  imaginary  covering  of  dust  and  step- 
ping to  the  window  viewed  the  picture  closely; 
holding  it  off,  she  looked  at  Leonora. 

"  That  gentleman,"  Leonora  said  finally,  "  is 
away  over  in  America." 

"  I  thought,"  Mrs.  Crimmins  remarked,  "  you 
was  from  America.  It 's  the  accent." 

Leonora  laughed.  To  Mrs.  Crimmins  the  laugh 
seemed  a  little  forced.  Her  inventive  mind  had 
quickly  got  at  the  reason  for  the  pretty  young  lady's 
mysterious  presence  here  in  a  secluded  corner  of 
London.  It  was  a  longish  way  to  come,  she  re- 
flected, but  having  discovered  a  man's  villainy  you 
could  not  go  too  far  away.  It  was  a  mistake  too, 
keeping  their  pictures. 

"  I  'm  quite  certain,  Miss,"  she  began  cheerfully, 
"  no  one 's  ever  come  'ere  but  was  a  runaway  from 


PIPPIN  75 

su'think."  After  an  impressive  pause,  she  ad- 
dressed the  picture.  "  But  we  all  get  our  just  de- 
serts good  or  bad.  Our  just  deserts,  that 's  my 
opinion!  Tike  your  young  person  'ere  an'  'er 
brutal  drunken  father.  'E  '11  get  'is  just  deserts  an' 
no  one  keener  on  seeing  it  'appen  than  you  are  your- 
self, I  '11  wager,  Miss !  " 

"  Poor  little  Pippin ! "  thought  Leonora,  more 
tender,  and  glad  to  find  excuse  for  her. 

The  door  opened  and  Pippin,  her  hands  full  of 
bundles,  burst  in.  She  drew  up  sharply,  darting  a 
look  from  Mrs.  Crimmins  to  the  young  lady. 

"  'Ere  we  are !  "  hailed  Mrs.  Crimmins.  "  'Ome 
from  market." 

Pippin  sent  an  approving  look  toward  Leonora. 

"  Yes,  Mrs.  Crimmins,  I  've  been  to  market  an' 
I  've  found  some  shrimps  my  lady  '11  go  mad 
about!" 

Catching  Pippin's  eye,  Mrs.  Crimmins  nodded 
admiration  of  her  lady. 

Pippin  signaled  responsively,  swelled  with  con- 
scious pride  and  deposited  her  packages  on  the  table, 
while  the  caretaker  drew  a  dust-cloth  from  her  belt 
and  darting  round  the  room  flicked  at  everything, 
not  without  a  resentful  glance  from  Pippin  whose 
habitual  neatness  could  not  be  excelled. 

"  The  soots  do  blow  in,"  Mrs.  Crimmins  told 
Miss  Lawrence,  and  having  arrived  at  the  chest 
upon  which  she  had  placed  the  photograph  she 


76  PIPPIN 

looked  over  her  shoulder,  her  glance  conveying  be- 
lief that  a  lady  found  with  that  in  her  possession 
might  be  pardoned  for  any  consequent  rashness. 

Suddenly  she  turned  to  Pippin. 

"  Tike  them  round  you  for  example,  young 
woman ;  let  the  men  alone !  Your  mother  'ad  your 
dad,  I  'ad  Crimmins  —  and,"  she  looked  again  at 
the  photograph,  "  they 's  'ardly  any  exception  to 
the  rule.  They  spells  trouble !  "  Mrs.  Crimmins 
paused  at  the  sound  of  a  long,  low  whistle,  stepped 
lightly  ,to  the  window,  looked  and  quickly  drew  in 
her  head,  a  pleased  simper  dimpling  her  mouth. 

"  Till  liter ! "  she  murmured.  "  I  am  glad  you 
'ave  come,"  and,  bowing  to  Leonora,  she  swept 
from  the  room.  Had  Mrs.  Crimmins's  sentiments 
not  been  made  known,  her  manner  would  have  indi- 
cated that  she  went  to  a  conquest. 

"  Pippin,"  Leonora  whispered  with  a  little  hu- 
morous smile.  "  I  have  been  expected.  And 
you  're  my  maid,  too ! " 

A  startled  glance  and  then  a  low  chuckle  from 
Pippin. 

"  She  was  expectin'  you,  or  some  one,"  said  Pip- 
pin, sobering  again.  "  You  may  as  well  know, 
Miss,  she  's  a  bit  balmy  in  the  crumpet,  being  too 
keen  on  mysteries.  She  fancies  'em  over  every- 
think.  You  '11  soon  get  on  to  'er.  But  she  's  a 
good  'eart,  I  dare  say." 

The   caretaker's   visit   had   reassured   Leonora. 


PIPPIN  77 

And  there  was  humor  in  what  must  have  happened. 
Pippin  having  engaged  the  room  for  some  highly 
commendable,  but  mythical  person  had  secured  Miss 
Leonora  Lawrence  to  play  the  part. 

Pippin  reached  into  her  pocket  and  produced  two 
sovereigns,  a  half  sovereign  and  some  silver. 

"  'Ere  it  is,  Miss,  the  very  best  I  could  manage 
out  o'  the  foxy  old  cove  —  two  quid,  ten ! " 

Leonora  gave  a  little  gasp  and  fell  back,  grasping 
a  chair. 

"  Two  pounds  and  ten  shillings !  It  won't  begin 
to  pay  Mrs.  Penley.  I  hoped  for  as  much  as  five 
pounds." 

"  I  could  told  you  not,  Miss.     'Ere  's  the  ticket." 

Leonora  only  stared  at  the  money. 

"  Buck  up,  Miss,"  urged  her  new  friend.  "  It 's 
su'think  to  go  on  with ;  the  rent 's  paid  'ere," 
Pippin  hardly  dared  think  how  soon  it  would 
again  be  due  though,  "  and  you  '11  be  'avin'  a  bit  o' 
luck  soon." 

This  seemed  to  brighten  Miss  Lawrence. 

"  Yes,"  she  said.  "  I  shall  surely  get  an  engage- 
ment soon.  I  am  willing  to  take  small  parts  now." 

She  counted  the  odd  silver  and  gave  some  to  Pip- 
pin. 

"  This  is  for  housekeeping,  and  I  must  send  part 
of  the  rest  as  something  upon  a  debt  I  owe  —  it 
will  show  I  mean  to  pay." 

Pippin,  engrossed  with  her  new  responsibility, 


78  PIPPIN 

dropped  the  silver  into  her  pocket  and  began  stow- 
ing her  purchases  into  the  cupboard.  But  with  this 
new-found  friend  she  was  moved  to  talkativeness. 

"Of  course  what  one  person  does  not  all  of  'em 
do,  nor  what  a  person  does  once,  they  '11  not  do  all 
the  time  —  eh,  Miss  ?  "  She  seemed  in  the  throes 
of  a  mental  struggle. 

"Of  course  I  don't  want  to  lead  a  dog's  life  for 
twenty-odd  year,  but  I  don't  believe  Dandy  's  a  sec- 
ond Crimmins,  nor  a  —  a,"  others  were  as  well  left 
unmentioned.  "  I  'd  like  you  to  see  Dandy,  I 
would  indeed.  Can  I  tell  you  about  'im,  Miss  Law- 
rence, if  you  please?" 

Leonora  turned  from  the  window.  "  What  is  it, 
Pippin?  Tell  me  all  about  it."  She  sat  down  and 
Pippin  took  her  seat  on  a  low  stool  near. 

"  Dandy  is  me  bloke.  This  is  the  w'y  of  it,  I  'd 
like  you  to  know.  It  was  a  six  mont's  back  —  lor' 
love  us  what  a  night !  an'  I'd  gone  out  to  look  for 
Dad,  'e  being  aw'y  from  'ome  without  a  top-coat 
or  nothink  when  the  rain  come  on.  It 's  turned 
out  since  'e  was  not  far  off,  courtin'  a  'andsome 
widow  which  'e  's  goin'  to  wed  —  but  at  that  time 
I  did  n't  know.  I  fancied  'e  'd  stopped  in  at  the 
World's  End,  a  pub,  Miss,  'e  feels  at  'ome  in,  to 
get  a  drop  o'  su'think  warmin',  knowing  I  'd  come 
to  look  out  for  'im." 

A  reminiscent  smile  stole  over  the  little  face. 

"  I  dare  s'y  I  'd  passed  from  the  top  to  the  bot- 


PIPPIN  79 

torn  o'  that  street  ten  times  an'  with  every  time  I  'd 
turn  to  go  back,  there  was  Dandy  at  me  'eels.  At 
last  I  larfed,  quite  'earty  and  loud;  'is  lovin'  looks 
and  he  so  dossed  out  in  a  fine  checked  rain-coat, 
I  'd  simply  got  to  larf.  Then  what  but  a  big  gust 
o'  wind  comes  that  suddint  an'  sweeps  away  me 
cap," — a  wild  wave  of  arms  indicated  the  gale  — 
"  an'  Dandy  flies  after  it.  Well,  that  was  the  be- 
ginning of  me  'aving  him  for  a  bloke.  It  was  me 
color  'e  'd  taken  the  fancy  to,  though  for  my  part 
I  like  pale  people.  'E  made  me  go  right  off  'ome! 
I  let  'im  walk  to  the  top  o'  me  street  —  it  was  n't 
Jubilee  Court  then,  Miss,  an'  I  said  I  'd  meet  'im 
next  d'y.  I  did  that  too,  but  afterward  I  done  what 
is  called  renouncin'  of  him." 

"Why,  Pippin?"  Leonora  urged.  "Why  did 
you  —  renounce  him? " 

"  Oh,  not  that  I  did  n't  fancy  'im,  Miss  Law- 
rence,—  fact,  it  was  likin'  Dandy  ever  so,  made  me 
do  it.  I  saw  'ow  with  'aving  to  keep  Dad  a  gentle- 
man as  I  'd  promised  Mar  I  'd  do,  I  might  'ave 
ways  different  from  Dandy,  so  grand  and  str'ight. 
I  wouldn't  'ave  'im  think  I  wasn't  as  str'ight  as 
'im." 

"  Of  course  not,"  said  Leonora  quickly.  "  I 
don't  blame  you,  Pippin.  But  do  you  know  what  ?  " 

"What,  Miss?" 

"  I  should  n't  give  him  up  at  all.  It 's  something 
to  know  a  nice  young  man  who  is,  as  you  say, 


80  PIPPIN 

straight.  I  should  be  good  friends  with  him,  and 
do  you  know  one  thing  I  should  n't  allow  ?  " 

"What,  Miss?"  came  again,  faintly  eager. 

"  I  should  not  allow  him  to  be  any  straighter 
than  I  would  be  myself  —  I  mean,  Pippin,  I  should 
keep  Dandy  for  a  — " 

"Bloke?" 

"Hero!" 

"  Oh,  how  simply  sweet,  Miss ! "  Pippin  slid 
nearer.  "  Dandy  makes  a  grand  'ero,  I  've  read  of 
'em  lookin'  a  lot  as  'e  does,  an*  I  'm  quite  certain 
they 's  no  noble  thing  'e  would  n't  do !  " 

"  Well,  there  you  are,"  nodded  Leonora ;  "  let 
Dandy  be  your  hero.  Of  course  when  one  has  a 
hero,  she  would  never  do  anything  a  hero  would 
not  like." 

"  'Ow  beautiful ! "  Pippin  sighed.  "  You  see, 
Miss,  after  Dad  took  up  with  the  widow  an'  did  n't 
need  me  I  got  engiged!  But  with  me — "  she 
looked  away  painfully,  "  making  that  mistake  to- 
day and  then  what  Missus  Crimmins  said  to-night 
about  'em  all  being  bounders  an'  trouble  — " 

"  Keep  him,  Pippin,"  Leonora  urged  earnestly ; 
"you  are  wise  in  keeping  Dandy  for  your  friend 
and  hero." 

"Pal  an'  'ero!"  mused  the  girl.  "I  likes  that, 
Miss.  It's  that  I  meant  —  what  one  person  does, 
all  of  'em  don't  do ;  nor  what  one  person  has  done, 
they  're  not  sure  to  keep  on  with." 


PIPPIN  Si 

"  If  the  person  sees  that  she  has  been  wrong,  she 
will  surely  want  to  change,"  gently  agreed  Leonora. 
She  leaned  forward,  her  hand  on  Pippin's  arm. 

Pippin's  lips  moved,  a  solemn  light  shone  in  her 
black  eyes.  "  I  'm  a-goin'  to  try  for  it,  s'  'elp  me 
Gawd." 

And  Leonora  knew  that  it  was  meant. 


CHAPTER  VII 

IPPIN  awoke  very  early  next  morn- 
ing.    Her  first  move  was  to  open  the 
butter-muslin     curtains     that     parti- 
tioned   her    off    and    peer    into    the 
"  drawing-room."     Remembrance    of 
the  young  lady  she  had  left  there  last  night  seemed 
too  sweet  to  be  true.     But  looking,  proved  it  a  liv- 
ing, breathing  reality ;  the  lady  was  there  fast  asleep. 
"  Beautiful  angel !  " 

Pippin  sighing  let  the  curtains  drop.  She  had 
slept  as  Mrs.  Crimmins  promised,  "  snug  as  a  bug 
in  a  rug,"  in  a  box  that  was  a  tight  fit.  She  sat  up 
cautiously;  giggling,  she  prodded  the  mattress,  a 
muslin  sack  filled  with  excelsior  —  excelsior  that 
had  come  wrapped  round  some  new  things  for  the 
bride  below  stairs  —  this  extravagant  young  thing 
having  put  the  stuff  out  into  the  hall  for  removal,  it 
became  the  caretaker's. 

"  Wait  till  the  lady  's  'ad  'er  second  baby  and  see 
if  she  '11  be  so  free,"  Mrs.  Crimmins  had  warned 
while  making  the  mattress. 

Suddenly  Pippin's  peace  of  mind  was  assailed  by 
the  remembrance  of  Doll.  She  sharply  regretted 

82 


PIPPIN  83 

now  having  settled  so  near  her  haunts.  A  horri- 
fying vision  of  the  creature  waylaying  Miss  Law- 
rence came  to  her.  She  gripped  the  sides  of  her 
box.  She  decided  quickly,  the  next  time  she  met 
Doll,  to  take  the  bull  by  the  horns :  "  I  've  turned 
honest,  Doll,"  she  would  own,  and  end  their  ac- 
quaintance forever. 

She  drew  up  her  knees  and,  head  hunched  be- 
tween them,  sat  thinking.  She  had  robbed  Miss 
Lawrence  the  day  before.  Even  if  she  had  not  re- 
formed, she  would  never  have  chosen  to  harm  Miss 
Lawrence.  This  proved  that  a  wrong  'un  never 
knows  what  they  are  doing.  But  how,  having 
started  in  for  being  straight,  had  she,  not  intend- 
ing, left  it  off?  It  showed  how  astonishingly 
strong  the  habit  was.  Now  she  must  watch  out 
for  the  other  one.  The  yearning  for  the  soothing 
"drop"  must  be  guarded  indeed!  "Shockin'!" 
she  whispered  with  a  little  shiver  of  fear. 

She  left  her  bed  and  from  the  hall  drew  in  a  shal- 
low tin  tub  of  water,  to  the  place  behind  the  cur- 
tains where,  as  quickly  and  silently  as  possible,  she 
bathed. 

She  dressed,  tiptoed  to  the  little  mirror,  and  took 
the  pins  from  her  ringlets.  Finishing  touches  to 
the  hair-dressing  were  under  way  when  her  eye 
fell  upon  the  photograph  of  the  American  gentle- 
man. The  name  "  Charles  Browne  "  was  written 
on  the  back  and  beneath,  "  Goshen,  Indiana." 


84  PIPPIN 

Pippin  read,  then  turning  the  photograph  over, 
viewed  it  closely,  coming  to  satisfactory  conclusions 
as  to  the  exact  place  the  gentleman  held  in  Miss 
Lawrence's  regard. 

"  She  'd  'ave  'im  to  be  her  bloke,  if  it  was  n't 
she  's  so  took  up  with  being  a  actress !  " 

She  suddenly  held  the  picture  off,  her  gaze  nar- 
rowed. 

"  A  bit  'arsh-lookin',"  she  whispered.  "  I  'd  not 
like  'im  to  'ave  anythink  on  me.  I  'd  rather  be  an 
actress  meself  than  'is  missus,  I  would!  " 

From  various  angles  her  contemplation  of  the 
picture  continued.  Finally  she  replaced  it.  Next 
her  attention  fell  to  the  contents  of  the  top  drawer, 
the  drawer  that  Miss  Lawrence  had  been  prevailed 
upon  to  accept  for  her  very  own  use.  In  frank 
curiosity  began  examination  of  what  was  there. 

First  it  was  an  unsealed  letter.  Pippin  had  gone 
out  after  their  tea  the  evening  before  to  purchase 
writing  material  for  Miss  Lawrence.  The  envel- 
ope was  addressed  to  Mrs.  Emily  Penley,  Blooms- 
bury  Square,  London,  W.  C.  The  letter  read: 

Dear  Mrs.  Penley, 

Enclosed  is  a  postal  order  for  ten  shillings.  It  is  less 
than  I  hoped  to  give  you  but  I  have  been  disappointed 
in  the  amount  my  poor  little  jewelry  brought.  I  will 
make  every  effort  to  settle  with  you  and  I  feel  con- 
fident that  I  shall  not  long  be  unable  to  do  so.  You 
have  been  so  kind  that  you  may  feel  interested  to 


PIPPIN  85 

know  I  have  found  a  friend  who  shares  her  com- 
fortable quarters  with  me.  Will  you  please  take  care 
of  my  trunk,  my  entire  wardrobe  is  in  it  —  I  must 
admit  that  I  need  some  of  the  things  very  much. 
Perhaps  I  may  have  some  of  them  as  soon  as  I  can 
pay  more,  if  not  all,  of  what  I  owe  you. 
Yours  very  truly, 

LEONORA  LAWRENCE. 

And  the  envelope  was  unsealed  that  the  postal 
order  might  go  in.  Pippin  reread  the  letter  care- 
fully, twice.  Slowly  her  jaw  dropped,  little  gasps 
of  indignation  escaped  her. 

"  So  that 's  the  w'y  of  it !  A  low  old  party  in 
Bloomsbury  a-'olding  of  Miss's  box  an'  all  her 
clothes ! "  Her  muttering  finally  subsided.  She 
stole  a  glance  at  the  bed  and  returned  the  letter  to 
the  envelope.  Then  she  set  about  getting  break- 
fast. Miss  Lawrence's  belongings  in  Bloomsbury 
Square  she  could  not  get  out  of  her  mind. 

"What  are  you  doing,  Pippin?"  came  drowsily 
from  the  bed. 

Pippin  hurried  to  the  bedside,  insisting : 

"  You  're  to  stay  a-bed,  Miss,  an'  'ave  break- 
fast!" 

But  she  was  conscious  of  her  guest's  close  scru- 
tiny —  a  glance  half  fearful,  that  with  waking,; 
thought  of  yesterday  might  have  brought.  Then 
the  young  lady's  face  cleared. 

The  banging  of  a  pail  and  swish  of  scrubbing 


86  PIPPIN 

brush  was  heard  in  the  hall,  a  sudsy  fragrance  per- 
meated the  top  floor,  and  even  while  panting  with 
the  exertion  of  her  cleanly  bent,  Mrs.  Crimmins 
began  to  sing. 

"  Now  we  '11  'ave  a  bit  o'  music,"  grinned  Pippin 
and,  reassured,  began  bustling  about  the  room.  A 
few  moments  later  Miss  Lawrence  was  breakfasting 
in  luxury.  A  plain  little  board,  that  proved  to  be  a 
movable  shelf  belonging  to  her  cupboard,  and 
wrapped  in  a  clean  cloth,  Pippin  had  utilized  as  a 
tray.  On  this  a  cup  of  fragrant  tea,  a  rack  of 
toast,  a  boiled  egg,  and  a  neat  dab  of  marmalade  on 
a  saucer. 

"How  delicious!"  marveled  Leonora  gratefully. 

"  Thank  you,  Miss !  "  Pippin  beamed  gratifica- 
tion. 

She  stopped  expectantly  for  the  postman's  rap 
sounded  below  and,  still  singing,  the  caretaker  de- 
scended to  answer.  With  astonishing  agility  she 
was  back. 

"  Mail  for  Raymond ! "  she  announced  at  the 
door. 

Pippin  bounded  to  admit  her. 

"  Penny  to  collect  on  the  letter,"  Mrs.  Crimmins 
said.  "  I  've  paid  it." 

"  The  little  kipper !  "  exclaimed  Pippin,  reaching 
into  her  pocket  as  she  looked  at  the  pencil-printed 
scrawl  on  the  envelope.  "  'E  sent  it  collect  for  'e 
had  no  penny !  " 


PIPPIN  87 

She  paid  the  penny,  and  opening  her  letter  fell 
into  gurgles  of  loving  merriment. 

"A  cat,  Missus  Crimmins,  drored  by  'im,  the 
love.  I  'd  p'y  most  any  price  for  it.  It 's  'is  w'y 
of  saying  'e  remembers  me,  in  spite  of  the  good  time 
he  's  'aving  in  the  country !  " 

She  darted  to  the  bed  to  exhibit  the  drawing  to 
Miss  Lawrence. 

"  Hal,  me  brother,  Miss ;  the  little  chap,  y' 
know!" 

She  hurried  in  the  midst  of  Leonora's  appre- 
ciation back  to  Mrs.  Crimmins.  But  the  caretaker 
stood  outside  in  very  serious  reflection  over  her 
morning  budget. 

"  Sally  writes  the  boy  is  comin'  on  nicely  and 
gets  along  so  well  with  my  two,"  she  said,  thrusting 
her  letter  into  the  bosom  of  her  dress. 

"  'Ow  nice !  "  smiled  the  sister. 

Mrs.  Crimmins  reached  out  and  closed  Pippin's 
door  with  a  suddenness  that  threatened  her  pert 
little  nose.  No  doubt  something  in  her  mail  had 
bothered  her.  Pippin  wondered,  but  she  had  also 
received  a  postcard  that  engrossed  her.  Gilt  let- 
ters upon  one  side  said,  "  I  think  of  you !  "  Upon 
the  back  was  scrawled :  "  Lordship  fretty.  Does 
bird  need  seeds  D." 

Pippin  read  it  over.  Then  more  shyly,  she  took 
this  card  to  the  bedside. 

"  From  'im  —  me  'ero,"  she  said  softly. 


88  PIPPIN 

Leonora  observed  the  gilt-lettered  message  sol- 
emnly. Pippin  turned  it  over. 

"  That 's  'is  hand,"  she  pointed  to  the  writing. 
"  'E  calls  his  master  'is  lordship,  which  he  regu- 
larly ain't  at  all.  'E 's  only  Bertram  Granville, 
Esquire ;  but  Dandy  s'ys  'e  ort  to  be  a  lordship,  he  's 
so  splendid.  When  he  's  f  retty  Dandy  can't  get 
off,  you  see,  Miss !  " 

Miss  Lawrence  showed  her  quick  comprehension 
of  Dandy's  cryptic  message. 

"  He  seems  very  business-like  and  thoughtful," 
she  said. 

Pippin  turned  eagerly  to  the  canary  which  chirped 
in  shrill  rivalry  of  the  love-birds  in  the  opposite 
window. 

"  Teddy  'as  n't  a  note,"  she  said,  "  and  I  don't 
know  what  'e  cost !  You  see,  Miss,  Dandy  's  got  a 
way  o'  lavishin'  it  about  which  is  certain  to  be 
took  advantage  of  as  was  done  by  that  clerk  in  the 
bird-shop.  I  'm  just  as  pleased  little  Teddy  don't 
scream  'is  lungs  out.  I  only  wished  to  ornament 
the  window,  but  the  beastie  was  supposed  to  sing 
and  you  don't  want  your  young  man's  innocence 
and  lavish  w'y  took  advantage  of ! " 

Miss  Lawrence  emphatically  shook  her  head. 

"  'E  give  me  the  bird,"  Pippin  said,  "  and  would 
'ave  it  he  should  keep  it  in  seeds,  they  being,  so  'e 
reasons,  part  of  the  bird.  But  blimy,  I  can't  think 
of  any  sort  of  fowl  could  do  with  the  feed  Dandy 


PIPPIN  89 

fancies  this  'un  can !  'E  is  a  silly  old  kipper !  "  she 
added  tenderly. 

She  relieved  Miss  Lawrence  of  the  tray  and  sug- 
gested her  morning  toilet. 

"  I  '11  mike  your  barth  ready  be'ind  the  curtains, 
which  when  it  ain't  my  bedroom,  we  'd  do  as  well  to 
call  the  barthroom,  I  think.  Then,  Miss  —  then  I 
should  dress  an'  call  round  to  see  Toby  'Amilton! " 

Leonora's  sudden  laughter  rang  out  in  the  little 
room. 

"  Now  what,  Miss ;  is  it  about  the  barthroom  ?  " 

"  It 's  your  advice  about  Mr.  Toby  Hamilton," 
Leonora  still  laughed. 

"  After  all,"  Pippin  said,  thoughtfully,  "  maybe 
it 's  part  fancy  about  'is  bein'  so  great.  If  I  wanted 
to  see  'im — " 

"  Mr.  Toby  Hamilton  is  a  great  man,  Pippin. 
Others  beside  Mr.  Hamilton  himself  think  so.  I 
had  even  heard  of  him  in  America  —  before  I  came 
to  London,"  Leonora  said.  "  And  to  see  him  is 
one  of  my  dearest  desires ! "  The  r's  rolled  from 
her  tongue  with  Western  generosity. 

"  My  eye !  "  mused  Pippin.  "  Now  I  'd  simply 
drop  in  an'  surprise  'im,  Miss!  And,"  she  added, 
"  you  did  s'y  dearest  desire  quite  American-like." 

Leonora  thanked  her  hostess  very  seriously  for 
this  reminder  and  retired  to  her  bath. 

Pippin  took  her  new  lady's  pink  frock  from  the 
wardrobe  and  painstakingly  smoothed  out  each 


90  PIPPIN 

flounce.  Her  mind  dwelt  upon  the  things  detained 
at  the  Bloomsbury  lodging-house.  And  when  Miss 
Lawrence  had  put  on  her  gown,  Pippin  took  fas- 
tidious pains  to  fasten  every  button  of  the  bodice, 
remembering  the  one  that  had  been  omitted  and 
discovered  by  her  yesterday  in  Temple  Gardens. 

"  And  to  think  I  swiped  from  'er,  my  beautiful 
Miss!" 

The  recollection  brought  its  pang  while  her  gaze 
admiringly  beheld,  now  as  then,  the  coils  of  fair 
hair,  gleaming  beneath  the  pretty  pink  hat. 

"  Oh,  Miss,"  she  gasped,  viewing  the  young  lady 
rapturously,  "  I  wish  you  luck  an'  when  Toby  'Amil- 
ton  sees  yer  — !  " 

She  was  glad  to  have  Miss  Lawrence  go  out 
laughing  and  she  leaned  from  her  window  to  add: 

"  Please,  Miss,  you  're  not  to  be  late  'ome  for 
tea ! "  and  getting  a  nod  and  a  smile,  she  added 
pensively :  "  She  needs  lookin'  arter,  Miss  Law- 
rence does.  I  fancy  the  gentleman  on  the  chest  do 
worry  over  'er !  " 

Pippin's  maternal  instinct,  so  early  and  strongly 
developed,  had  been  keenly  roused  at  this  evident 
need. 

"  I  '11  never  lose  sight  of  'er,  never  give  'er  up 
except  when  she  's  back  in  clover  and  not  needing 
me !  "  she  muttered. 

That  might  be  sometime  hence.  It  might  only 
be  when  Miss  Lawrence  finally  married.  She 


PIPPIN  91 

smiled.  Why  not  an  earl  for  Miss  Lawrence! 
Delighted  at  this  Pippin  saluted  Mrs.  Crimmins, 
now  doing  the  steps  and  door-stone,  who  had  paused 
to  look,  with  open  admiration  after  Miss  Lawrence. 
She  glanced  up  and  winked.  Indeed  she  approved 
of  Pippin's  lady. 

Some  residents  of  the  Court  were  out  to  enjoy 
a  street  organ.  By  them  the  young  stranger  was 
closely  observed.  A  leisurely  butcher-boy  on  his 
way  to  the  private  square  beyond,  noticed  her  too. 

"  There 's  'air !  "  he  bellowed,  his  red  face  creased 
with  grins.  "There's  'air!" 

Mrs.  Crimmins  lunged  at  the  youth  with  her 
scrubbing  brush.  With  butcher-boy  agility,  he 
leapt  backward,  and  made  the  pavement  opposite 
with  the  saucy  inquiry,  "  'Ow  'd  your  fice  get  the 
w'y  it  is?" 

"  Wait !  "  she  said.  "  I  '11  be  round  at  the  butch- 
er's before  the  d'y  is  out  and  then  we  '11  see.  Mr. 
Burns  knows  me! " 

"  Now  we  shan't  be  long,"  the  butcher-boy 
jibed. 

But  Pippin  turned  away  from  the  window. 
Arms  folded  across  her  bosom  she  took  a  few  brisk 
turns  around  her  room. 

"  Charin',"  she  complained,  "  is  the  only  thing  I 
knows  of  you  can  get  without  a  character." 

She  hurriedly  straightened  the  room,  stuck  on 
her  fur  cap  and  with  a  last  look  round,  sailed  out. 


92  PIPPIN 

It  was  a  warm  day  and  Mrs.  Crimmins  was  dally- 
ing over  the  door-stone  this  morning  while  thinking 
pleasantly  of  her  new  lodger. 

"  Did  yer  'ear  that  boy?  "  she  asked  of  Pippin. 

"  I  saw  you  was  enough  for  'im,"  said  Pippin, 
"  or  I  'd  'ave  come  down." 

"  A  beautiful  young  woman,"  Mrs.  Crimmins 
said.  She  looked  toward  the  King's  Road  down 
which  Miss  Lawrence  had  disappeared.  "  Is  'er 
luggage  like  to  come  while  you  're  both  out  ?  " 

Pippin  gave  a  little  start  and  affected  an  effort  to 
recall  some  final  instructions. 

"  What  was  'er  last  words  about  that !  I  am  a 
pore  'and  at  remembering." 

"  I  should  never  a  thort  that,"  Mrs.  Crimmins 
replied  quickly  and  she  added  in  a  hurt  voice,  "  I  'm 
not  one  to  pry  into  secrets.  But  I  know  when  a  lady 
is  in  trouble.  Upset,  with  a  man  at  the  bottom 
of  it,  who  would  think  of  their  luggage!  Any- 
think  I  can  lend  Miss  Lawrence  she  's  welcome  to. 
I  've  some  nice  fine  underthings  too."'  Mrs.  Crim- 
mins's  red  head,  tightly  bound  in  curling  pins, 
tossed  proudly. 

"  Mrs.  Crimmins !  "  Pippin  said  with  sidelong  re- 
proachful glance.  "  I  know  you  would  never  pry 
into  secrets !  "  Then  she  rewarded  her  modesty 
with :  "  Miss  Lawrence  is  a  n'actress !  " 

Mrs.  Crimmins  straightened  up  with  every  sign 
of  interest. 


PIPPIN  93 

Pippin  went  on. 

"  She  'as  a  number  of  things  on  hand,  but  is  'old- 
ing  off  to  be  sure  of  taking  the .  right  one.  She 
could  n't  waste  'er  time  at  su'think  like  —  oh,  s'y, 
that  gal  at  the  Empire,  as  dresses  in  men's  clothes 
an'  sings." 

"  Rather  not !  She  's  a  lady,  Miss  Lawrence  is," 
agreed  Mrs.  Crimmins. 

The  neighbors  coming  near  again,  she  gave  her 
lodger  a  quick  sharp  nudge  and  murmured,  "  We 
understands  each  other.  Let  me  know  if  she  needs 
anythink ! " 

Pippin  turned  for  a  word  with  the  others  and 
to  notice  the  babies,  inquiring  the  sex,  age,  weight 
and  number  of  teeth  of  each  with  the  most  enthu- 
siastic interest.  She  slipped  away  before  any 
friendly  return  of  questions  could  be  put  to  her. 
Pippin  liked  Mrs.  Crimmins  and  believed  gratefully 
in  her  friendship,  but  she  hurried  toward  King's 
Road  discreetly  reflecting,  "  What  Missus  Crimmins 
does  n't  know,  won't  'arm  'er !  " 

Her  mind  dwelt  upon  Miss  Lawrence's  box  of 
clothes  in  the  possession  of  Mrs.  Penley,  for  she 
had  decided  to  take  it  upon  herself  at  once  to  see 
what  could  be  done  about  this- 

She  set  out  manfully. 

It  was  a  long  walk  to  Bloomsbury  Square  but 
Pippin  strode  on  with  steady  purpose.  When  she 
finally  arrived  at  Mrs.  Penley's  lodging-house,  she 


94  PIPPIN 

slackened  her  gait  and  making  sure  of  the  number 
to  which  Miss  Lawrence's  letter  had  been  addressed, 
she  paused. 

There  was  nothing  unusual  about  the  house.  It 
might  even  have  been  a  private  residence.  The 
ground-floor  window  was  open  and  two  voices,  that 
by  tone  and  accent  were  to  her  enjoyably  American, 
reached  her  from  within.  Somebody  raised  a  win- 
dow on  the  floor  above  and  Pippin  sauntered  away. 
All  was  very  quiet,  no  one  was  about. 

Reaching  the  corner  she  turned  and  came  back 
slowly.  At  the  window  that  had  opened  above,  she 
saw  by  skirting  the  edge  of  the  pavement  and  tip- 
ping back  her  head,  was  a  lady  in  black  silk  and 
wearing  a  widow's  cap.  She  was  brushing  a  black 
beaded  bonnet.  She  looked  down  into  the  street,  but 
took  no  notice  of  the  loiterer.  Presently  she  went 
away  from  the  window.  The  American  ladies 
could  still  be  heard.  How  to  get  to  Cook's  was  their 
open  and  clarion-voiced-  discussion.  Pippin  went 
closer  and  peeked  over  the  area  railing.  The  base- 
ment door  was  closed.  She  walked  away  slowly, 
back  to  the  corner,  crossed  leisurely  and  hung  over 
the  paling,  staring  into  the  cool,  green  square. 

Presently  she  went  back  to  the  house.  A  milk 
cart  was  standing  outside.  She  hurried  to  look 
again  over  the  area  railing.  The  basement  door 
now  stood  partly  open.  She  went  quickly,  noise- 
lessly down  the  steps,  dodged  past  the  door  and 


PIPPIN  95 

huddled  in  the  corner  of  the  area.  Within,  a  girl, 
the  housemaid  she  judged,  joked  the  dairy-boy. 
Pippin  waited.  There  was  subdued  laughing  and 
giggling.  A  scuffle  finally  ensued,  then  she  heard 
the  boy  coming.  His  hand  grasped  the  door  — 
he  burst  out,  jerked  it  to  and  without  noticing  Pip- 
pin, bounded  up  the  steps  and  his  milk  cart  rattled 
as  he  pushed  it  away. 

Back  and  forth  inside  dragged  the  housemaid. 
She  droned  out  a  little  tune  rather  wearily.  The 
minutes  seemed  long  and  the  danger  of  her  posi- 
tion imminent  to  the  girl  without.  At  last  the 
footsteps  shuffled  across  the  kitchen  floor,  ascended 
some  bare  stairs,  a  door  opened  at  the  top  and 
banged  to.  Pippin  listened.  All  was  silent  within. 
She  pushed  open  the  door  which  she  had  kept  un- 
latched by  her  foot,  and  stepped  into  the  kitchen.  It 
seemed  a  little  dark  and  for  a  moment  she  blinked, 
then  she  saw  another  door  opposite  the  one  she  had 
entered.  It  stood  half  open.  She  moved  across  to 
it,  slipped  through,  and  found  herself  in  a  lighter 
hall  that  led  to  the  back  garden.  At  the  left  was 
the  short  flight  of  stairs  up  which  the  maid  must 
have  gone.  She  trembled  a  little  at  her  daring. 
Inclination  was  leading  her  up  the  steps,  hoping  to 
get  access  to  the  rooms  above.  She  listened  again, 
and  at  the  same  time  looking  round,  her  eyes  fell 
upon  a  trunk  projecting  from  behind  the  hall  door. 
Pippin  stared,  gasped,  and  stepped  forward.  The 


96  PIPPIN 

large  red  letter  "  L."  on  a  square  of  white  paper 
was  stuck  on  top  of  the  trunk.  Near  the  corner 
was  pasted  a  larger  square  of  paper,  the  red  letters 
of  which  spelled  "  Cabin."  Under  the  lock  still 
another  placard  read  "  London."  Pippin  crept  cau- 
tiously round  the  trunk.  "  L.  L."  was  painted  in 
black  on  the  end.  She  reached  out  and  touched 
it.  She  passed  her  hand  over  the  lock ;  it  was  fast. 
Above  footsteps  sounded,  then  the  knocker  fell  upon 
the  street  door.  She  hurried  through  the  kitchen 
and  into  the  area.  When  the  caller  was  admitted 
and  the  door  closed  above,  she  hastened  up  the 
steps  and  still  unnoticed,  fled  from  Bloomsbury 
Square. 

Fortune  had  favored  her.  The  next  move, 
though  she  hardly  knew  what  it  would  be,  might 
prove  more  difficult. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

ERTRAM  GRANVILLE,  ESQ., 
was  a  playwright.  Playwriting  he 
lived  for,  but  he  did  not  live  by  it. 
Some  of  his  friends  considered  him 
a  genius  and  he  indulged  the  moody 
temperament  with  which  genius  is  supposed  to  be 
afflicted. 

With  a  mood  on,  only  Dandy,  his  man,  could 
manage  Mr.  Granville.  He  had  just  come  back 
from  Bournemouth  where  they  had  tried  a  one- 
act  tragedy  of  his  on  the  dog.  It  had  cost  the 
entire  amount  of  money  he  would  have  for  some- 
time, and  it  had  not  been  accepted  by  the  star  who 
was  interested  in  the  play;  hence  the  mood.  He 
sat  at  the  window  in  the  front  room  of  his  cham- 
bers in  Jermyn  Street,  and  looked  out  gloomily. 
He  declined  his  tea  and  toast.  Dandy  had  made  it 
with  his  own  hands  for  his  master  who  had  pre- 
viously declined  his  breakfast  procured  at  a  near- 
by caterer's.  He  sat  in  his  silk  dressing-gown  and 
smoked  and  looked  out  gloomily. 

Mr.  Granville  was  a  tall  man  of  large  propor- 
tions. He  dressed  with  care  and  taste.  He  wore 

7  97 


98  PIPPIN 

a  monocle  and  long  mustachios,  waxed.  When  he 
laughed,  as  he  did  now  and  then  in  a  great  guffaw, 
he  displayed  wonderful  white  teeth.  The  hair  was 
thinning  out  on  top  of  his  head  and  this  annoyed 
him  greatly.  While  at  work  writing  his  plays  he 
massaged  his  head  with  a  delicately  shaped,  white 
hand. 

Dandy  adored  his  master;  he  considered  him  a 
personage  of  consequence  who  should  have  been 
born  to  a  title.  He  supplied  this  deficiency,  always 
speaking  of  him  as  his  lordship.  Dandy  called 
himself  a  gentleman-in-waiting,  the  exact  capacity 
in  which  he  served  his  lordship  being  undeter- 
mined. 

A  few  years  before,  when  Dandy  was  a  very 
young  man  indeed,  he  had  come  to  Mr.  Granville's 
chambers,  the  very  same  chambers  he  occupied  now, 
to  deliver  a  .pair  of  riding  boots  from  the  firm 
which  employed  him  as  emergency  errand  boy. 

"  Can't  leave  the  parcel  without  the  money,  sir," 
he  had  yelled  out  according  to  instructions,  when 
the  door  opened. 

Mr.  Granville  himself  had  stood  there.  He  was 
in  a  flowered  silk  dressing-gown  then,  too,  and  his 
hair  was  a  little  thin  on  top,  though  not  quite  so 
thin  as  now,  and  he  had  a  perplexed,  preoccupied 
look,  a  quill  pen  behind  his  ear  and  a  cigarette  in 
his  mouth. 

"What   nonsense,"   Mr.    Granville   had   roared. 


PIPPIN  99 

"  Go  back  and  ask  Strots  if  they  want  my  custom 
hereafter  or  not  —  leave  me  those  boots,  too,  for  I 
want  'em ! " 

He  took  the  parcel.  Dandy  gave  it  up  because 
he  admired  Mr.  Granville  and  not  for  his  sixpence. 

The  next  day  Dandy  returned  early  to  inform 
the  gentleman  he  had  lost  his  berth  as  Strots'  emer- 
gency errand  boy. 

"  Gadzooks !  "  cried  Mr.  Granville ;  "  you  're  well 
out  of  there!" 

He  had  the  boy  in.  He  informed  him  of  his 
calling  as  a  playwright.  He  told  about  his  income 
which  was  sufficient  if  he  could  give  up  trying  out 
his  plays  but  he  could  n't.  He  told  him  how  one 
day,  though,  he  'd  come  out  on  top  with  a  winner 
and  nothing  but  death  could  stop  him.  He  told 
him  how  he  always  paid  his  bills,  eventually;  how 
everybody  knew  he  would  but  they  pestered  him, 
periodically.  He  explained  how  the  knocker  got 
on  his  nerves.  Its  sound  sometimes  jolted  a  splen- 
did idea  out  of  his  head  completely.  He  asked 
Dandy  about  himself  then  and  hearing  that  he  was 
an  honest  orphan  and  lived  with  his  sister,  Mrs. 
Miles,  the  wife  of  Cobbler  Miles,  and  would  be 
glad  of  a  berth  where  he  could  "  sleep  in,"  Mr. 
Granville  offered  it  at  once.  He  offered,  too,  any- 
thing in  his  wardrobe  that  he  did  not  want  and 
a  decent  wage,  which  had  since  increased.  Im- 
mediately then,  Dandy  had  the  satisfaction  of  carry- 


loo  PIPPIN 

ing  Mr.  Granville's  check  round  to  his  late  employ- 
ers, and  of  refusing  to  return  to  their  service. 

If  Dandy  was  fond  of  his  lordship,  his  lordship 
loved  Dandy,  in  his  moody,  temperamental  way. 
He  called  him  Dan,  short  for  Daniel. 

While  Mr.  Granville  smoked  and  stared  out  of 
the  window,  Dandy  was  dusting.  A  woman  took 
care  of  the  chambers,  but  she  sometimes  failed  to 
remove  all  the  dust.  His  lordship  could  not  bear 
it;  dust  got  on  his  nerves.  Dandy  moved  about, 
working  carefully. 

"  Arcadians  very  good,  sir ! "  he  murmured  the 
information  for  what  it  was  worth.  "  Fit  to  take 
in  from  first  to  last." 

No  answer. 

"  Su'think  sober  in  '  Madam  Nash  '  at  the  Strand, 
sir;  if  you  dropped  in  s'y  beginning  of  the  second 
act,  you  'd  get  enough  —  first  act  is  about  'er  past 
an'  not  nice !  The  pore  gal !  " 

His  lordship  seemed  to  attend  and  possibly  made 
a  mental  note  of  this,  then  turned  back  to  his  gloom. 
Part  of  Dandy's  duty  was  taking  in  the  plays.  An 
allowance  was  made  him  for  a  seat  in  the  pit  at 
everything  going.  His  judgment  was  considered 
sound  by  Mr.  Granville,  who  thus  saved  himself 
from  things  not  worth  his  time. 

"  I  'm  going  to  look  in  on  '  The  Follies,' "  the 
gentleman-in-waiting  continued.  "  They  're  cheer- 


PIPPIN  101 

ful  and  I  'ear  they  've  new  songs  and  their  Potted 
Pageant  is  rottin'  good  fun !  " 

There  was  no  response  from  his  lordship.  Dandy 
stopped  in  front  of  a  book-shelf ;  having  dusted  it 
thoroughly,  he  draped  the  duster  over  his  arm  and 
took  from  an  inside  pocket  a  photograph.  It  was 
a  likeness  of  himself.  It  was  a  very  good  one; 
the  only  fault  Dandy  found  was  the  lack  of  serious- 
ness. He  had  tried  for  a  serious  picture,  for  it 
was  a  serious  matter;  the  photograph  was  for  Pip- 
pin. 

Dandy  was  in  love;  he  needed  no  reminder  of 
Pippin  but  he  could  never  be  sure  until  she  was 
wholly  his,  that  she  did  not  need  one  of  him.  In 
spite  of  the  solemnity  of  the  affair,  he  had  been 
photographed  grinning.  He  was  sorry.  It  ap- 
peared undignified.  He  crossed  his  legs,  leaned  an 
arm  on  the  book-shelf,  his  head  in  his  hand  and  re- 
garded the  picture. 

A  budget  of  papers  whirred  across  the  room, 
glanced  off  at  Dandy's  right  and  startled  him  with 
a  spring  into  the  air. 

"  Your  lordship  just  missed  me !  "  he  announced. 
Quickly  stowing  the  picture  into  his  pocket  he 
stooped  to  pick  up  the  bundle. 

"Didn't  you  hear  me  speak?"  the  playwright 
demanded  fretfully. 

"  Not  a   word,  your  lordship,"   Dandy   replied, 


102  PIPPIN 

opening  out  the  papers  upon  the  table  at  his  mas- 
ter's side.  "Did  you  speak,  sir?" 

"  Gad,"  Mr.  Granville  replied,  "  am  I  going 
balmy?" 

Dandy  appeared  to  await  his  master's  own  de- 
cision on  this,  it  was  something  he  frequently 
asked. 

"  That  Bournemouth  business  was  a  good  old 
wipe  to  get  without  warning,"  Mr.  Granville  said, 
self -pityingly,  "  and  anyhow  this  tea  is  absolutely 
cold.  I  don't  drink  cold  tea,  y'  know." 

"  I  would  n't  'ave  you,  sir."  Dandy  took  up  the 
teapot  and  the  cup  of  tea  his  lordship  had  poured 
and  permitted  to  cool  and  went  out  of  the  room. 

"  Dan !  "  called  Mr.  Granville. 

Dandy  whirled  round  and  reappeared  at  once. 

"  Anybody  call  this  morning  ?  "  inquired  Mr. 
Granville. 

"  Now,  sir,  don't  you  bother ! "  humored  Dandy. 
"  They  can't  get  blood  out  of  a  stone  as  I  can 
see!" 

"  Who  tried  ?  "  his  lordship  asked. 

"  Dobbs  wanted  a  little  on  account,  before  'e  goes 
on  with  the  new  riding  britches,  sir.  I  told  'im  'e 
could  go  on  with  'em  or  not,  just  's  'e  liked ;  there 
was  no  money  as  I  could  see  for  quite  a  bit  a'ead. 
Tidberry  wanted  to  know  how  your  'air  was  comin' 
along  on  top,  said  he  'd  a  new  thing  'e  fancied 
would  'elp  you,  sir,  he  'aving  studied  your  case  dili- 


PIPPIN  103 

gent.  They  Ve  just  got  another  little  Tidberry  last 
midnight  and  are  a  bit  short  there  —  but  you  can't 
'elp  that,  sir.  I  told  'im  to  come  on  with  the  new 
tonic  and  not  lose  a  good  customer  through  fool- 
ishness. The  garage,  sir,  sent  a  man — " 

The  loud  falling  of  the  door-knocker  interrupted. 
Dandy  whirled  round  like  a  top  and,  as  he  started 
out,  Mr.  Granville  called : 

"  Dash  the  blighters !  " 

"  Yes,  your  lordship,"  Dandy  replied,  hurrying 
along  the  passage.  His  lordship  always  called  his 
creditors  blighters,  probably  to  harden  his  heart 
until  he  could  manage  their  bills,  which  distressed 
him. 

"  Bring  me  my  tea,"  he  shouted.  "  I  've  got  a 
good  idea.  I  can  strengthen  that  play ;  don't  let  'em 
bother  me ;  stop  'em  knockin' !  " 

"  Right,  your  lordship !  " 

The  master  heard  the  outside  door  opened.  An 
angry  voice  burst  forth,  but  quite  suddenly  ceased. 
The  low,  impressive  tones  of  his  gentleman-in-wait- 
ing  followed.  They  persisted  in  patient  interrup- 
tion of  the  indignant  creditor,  who  finally  was  heard 
to  laugh.  The  laugh  grew  fainter,  carried  away, 
the  door  closed  after  it. 

Mr.  Granville  smiled  and  sighed.  There  was 
never  any  fuss,  any  row,  although  there  was  fre- 
quent cause,  for  an  angry  creditor  within  his  rights 
is  not  easily  managed.  The  matter  distressed  Mr. 


io4  PIPPIN 

Granville.  After  every  one  of  his  ventures,  he 
vowed  there  would  never  be  another  but  somehow 
it  went  on.  It  had  gone  on  disastrously  for 
years. 

He  paced  the  room.  His  idea  for  the  improve- 
ment of  his  play  developed  encouragingly.  The 
gentleman-in-waiting  returned  with  a  tray  bearing 
hot  tea  and  more  toast.  He  went  out  and  came 
back,  bringing  pencils  and  paper  and  a  fresh  jar  of 
tobacco. 

"  The  portfolio  is  under  my  pillow,"  Mr.  Gran- 
ville said,  observing  Dandy's  tactics  with  satisfac- 
tion. 

Dandy  fetched  this  from  the  next  room  and 
placed  it  beside  the  tea.  Mr.  Granville  sank  into  a 
chair.  He  took  the  sheets  from  the  portfolio, 
glanced  over  them  lovingly,  while  sipping  his  tea. 
He  set  the  cup  down  and  felt  out  for  the  toast 
rack.  Nibbling,  sipping  and  finally  smoking,  he 
became  tranquil,  absorbed.  He  was  a  perfect  gen- 
tleman when  the  working  mood  was  on. 

Quite  suddenly  he  looked  up  at  Dandy  who  stood 
at  hand. 

"If  those  blighters  are  safe  for  a  bit,"  he  said, 
"  and  won't  keep  on  at  the  knocker,  you  can  go  off 
a  while.  I  shan't  need  you !  " 

So  unusual  was  this  unselfishness,  that  Dandy  re- 
garded his  master  with  sharp  concern. 

"  You  'd  better  go,"  he  advised  further.     "  I  can 


PIPPIN  105 

swot  away  here  until  lunch  — "  and  he  became  lost 
again. 

Dandy  stood  for  a  moment,  observing  his  lord- 
Chip's  perfect  calm.  He  might  not  be  this  way 
'again  for  some  time.  Dandy  was,  he  reflected  with 
joyous  responsibility,  engaged  to  Pippin.  There 
was  the  picture  and  if  she  happened  to  be  about 
her  street  he  could  hand  it  to  her  and  snatch  a 
glimpse  of  her.  He  loped  from  the  room  softly. 
He  was  in  love. 

So  a  little  later  he  swung  along  the  street  nattily 
neat,  twirling  his  slender  stick.  His  pale  blue  cra- 
vat satisfied  him  extremely. 

Arriving  at  the  corner  of  Jubilee  Court  and  the 
Fulham  Road,  Dandy  leaned  at  ease  against  the 
lamp-post.  He  could  spare  half  an  hour  thus, 
watching  the  Court  for  Pippin's  appearance.  After 
that  he  would  permit  himself  to  walk  through.  She 
had  forbidden  him  to  loiter  near  her  house  —  be- 
sides, Dandy  had  his  own  ideas  about  that. 

He  had  not  been  waiting  long  when  there  ap- 
proached the  young  woman  who  seemed  to  haunt 
him. 

"  We  Ve  met  before,"  she  hailed. 

Dandy  raised  his  cap  this  time. 

"  I  see  you  remember  me,"  she  smiled. 

He  did  not  respond. 

"  Pippin  is  a  pal  o'  mine,"  she  went  on.  "  She 's 
moved  from  'er  old  diggin's  an'  she  lives  about 


io6  PIPPIN 

here  —  in  Jubilee  Court,  I  believe  ?  "  He  made  no 
answer.  "  She 's  expectin'  me  to  call  and  I  've  lost 
the  address." 

"  Oh !  "  Dandy  said  suspiciously. 

"You  don't  believe  me,"  Doll  sniffed.  "You 
don't  want  to,  perhaps,"  she  shrewdly  added.  "  Oh, 
very  well.  Wait  an'  see.  Oh  ho !  " 

"Oh  ho?"  Dandy  questioned.  "What  d'  yer 
mean  ?  " 

"  Nothink,"  Doll  grinned ;  "  nothink  at  all !  " 

"  What  d'  yer  mean,  oh  hoing  then  ?  "  Dandy's 
color  rose. 

"  My  word,  keep  your  'air  on,"  Doll  said,  back- 
ing away. 

Dandy  eyed  her,  at  once  yearning  to  inquire 
about  her  insinuation,  and  to  throttle  her  for  it. 

"  I  was  goin'  to  tell  yer ;  Pippin  's  pals  with  a 
young  lady,"  the  creature  simpered.  "  I  see  'em  out 
together  yesterd'y." 

She  waited,  but  as  he  said  nothing  further,  she 
thrust  out  her  tongue  and  walked  away. 

"  The  pore  thing 's  balmy,"  he  muttered.  "  I  '11 
warn  Victoria  A.  of  'er !  "  Yet  he  could  not  thus 
lightly  dismiss  thought  of  her.  What  was  she? 
And  she  had  implied  —  what  ?  And  was  that  why 
Victoria  Alexandra  seemed  afraid  of  her?  He 
ought  to  know ! 

He  lit  his  pipe  and  settled  back  against  the  lamp- 
post. From  her  house,  Pippin  presently  emerged. 


"Nothink,  .  .  .  nothink  at  all !" 


PIPPIN  109 

She  was  neat,  the  rosy  contour  of  her  face  was 
perfect  as  ever,  the  little  curls  in  a  tempting  row 
beneath  her  queer  little  cap,  but  Dandy  saw  she  was 
preoccupied.  She  approached  with  head  bent,  eyes 
aground. 

"  'Ere  we  are !  "  saluted  her  lover. 

Pippin  started. 

"  It 's  you!  "  she  said,  smiling.  "  'Ow  's  'is  lord- 
ship?" 

"  Quiet  for  the  time  being,"  Dandy  answered. 
"  I  got  'im  going  on  'is  pl'y  for  a  bit.  'E  'opes  to 
bring  it  round  an'  what  with  his  entire  quarter's 
income  sunk  there,  I  'ope  'e  may.  I  'ate  seein' 
'im  suffer  —  he  can't  stand  suffering.  It  tells  all 
over  'im,  even  affects  'is  'air  which  we  are  in  for 
it  to  keep  from  fallin'  off  the  top  of  'is  'ead !  " 

"  Pore  thing !  "  sympathized  Pippin. 

"  An'  I  've  my  work  cut  out  to  keep  off  the  cred- 
itors," Dandy  went  on.  "  They  give  me  the  sick ! 
Know  'e 's  good  for  it,  and  'ow  they  go  on !  " 

"  Pre'aps  they  need  what 's  comin'  to  'em,"  sug- 
gested Pippin. 

"  Not  they ! "  Dandy  emptied  his  pipe.  "  I 
knows  'em,  personally !  "  He  winked. 

;<  Tidberry  the  'air-dresser  is  not  the  kind  to  go 
in  for  a  dossy  wife  and  five  children  besides  a 
mother's  'elp  —  no,  dash  'im — -not  if  'e  couldn't 
well  afford  it!" 

"  Some  does,"  said  Pippin. 


no  PIPPIN 

"  I  s'y,  old  gal,"  her  lover  looked  at  her  earnestly, 
"  you're  out  o'  sorts ;  you  're  not  yourself.  What 's 
up,  Victoria  Alexandra?" 

The  namesake  of  two  queens  smiled  bravely. 

"  I  think  it 's  me  liver !  "  she  said. 

She  disliked  to  admit  having  searched  in  vain 
all  the  day  before  for  a  situation  —  not  just  for 
something  she  fancied,  but  for  any  sort  of  honest 
work.  Charing!  Charing  even  had  been  denied 
her  for  lack  of  a  character.  People  were  getting 
fussy.  They  were  enough  to  drive  a  straight  one 
wrong,  Pippin  almost  believed.  Yet  she  paused  in 
justice.  There  was  a  time  she  could  not  have  been 
trusted.  Was  she  paying  for  it  now? 

"  Victoria  Alexandra  —  dear,  you  're  not  liver- 
ish," Dandy  said. 

He  tapped  his  forehead.  "  It 's  'ere  you  're  suf- 
ferin',  I  know  the  symptoms,  they  resemble  'is  lord- 
ship's! What  is  it?  Tell  it  to  Dandy,  dear." 

His  tenderness  moved  her,  a  lump  filled  her  throat 
but  she  smiled. 

"  I  've  a  lady  stoppin'  along  of  me,  old  cocka- 
lorum," she  said  brightly,  "  and  I  keep  thinkin'  of 
'er  and  'ow  sweet  an'  beautiful  an'  good — " 

"  Blimy !  "  Dandy  said ;  "  I  Ve  'card  about  'er ! " 

"  'Eard !  "  queried  Pippin. 

"  She  's  been  about.  That 's  'un  you  call  Doll. 
She  told  me  about  this  lady  of  yours  —  saw  you  out 
together." 


PIPPIN  in 

"  Doll  told  you  ?  "  Pippin's  eyes  widened.  "  Saw 
us  out  together  ?  "  She  frowned,  recalling.  "  Once 
Miss  an'  me  met  'ere  on  this  corner  —  yesterd'y  it 
was!" 

"  I  s'y,  old  gal,  are  yer  frightened  of  this  Doll  or 
what?" 

"  Frightened  of  'er  —  me  —  ?  " 

Patiently  Dandy  saw  he  was  not  yet  to  know  for 
Pippin's  laugh  rang  out  loudly,  and  tugging  at  his 
sleeve  she  murmured,  "  Come  along  and  walk ! " 

So  Doll  was  on !  Her  heart  beat  fearfully.  She 
had  no  idea  Doll  knew.  She  had  not  seen  her  since 
the  day  she  became  installed  in  Jubilee  Court.  Doll 
had  never  made  a  practice  of  going  out  through 
the  day,  yet  of  late  she  seemed  always  about.  Pip- 
pin hurried  her  lover  down  the  Fulham  Road. 

"  Did  she  talk  much  ?  "  she  asked  anxiously. 

Dandy  shook  his  head. 

"  Not  it,  but  she 's  got  an  aloodin'  manner  I  dis- 
likes." He  stole  a  glance  at  her  downcast  face. 

"  'Ere,"  he  urged,  and  to  quiet  his  own  misgiv- 
ings as  well  as  hers,  drew  her  toward  the  edge  of 
the  pavement  where  there  was  a  stand  with  a  great 
glass  jar  upon  it.  From  this  a  fat  man  was  selling 
highly  colored  pineapple  juice. 

"  Cool  an'  sweet,  cool  an'  sweet,"  the  fat  man 
called. 

Pippin  accepted  and  drank  off  a  cupful ;  and,  ap- 
pearing greatly  refreshed,  was  urged  to  another. 


112  PIPPIN 

"  It 's  nice !  "  she  admitted. 

Dandy  then  drank  three  cupsful,  in  rapid  succes- 
sion. 

"  I  've  got  a  motto,"  Dandy  sang,  clearly  to  cheer 
her ;  "  alw'ys  merry  an'  bright  —  I  've  simp-ly  got- 
ter  sing — "  He  took  a  few  dancing  steps,  just  by 
way  of  amusing  Pippin. 

"  It 's  done  you  good,"  beamed  the  fat  man  who 
suddenly,  agreeably,  discovered  himself  rapidly  sell- 
ing out,  for  others  following  Dandy's  lead  and 
amused  by  his  antics  were  stopping  too. 

There  was  a  rush  to  be  next  at  the  cup. 

"  Ladies  an'  children  first,"  called  the  fat  man  in 
the  calm  voice  of  one  averting  a  fire  panic. 

He  had  caught  the  eye  of  a  man  carrying  one 
child  and  leading  another,  making  for  the  syrupy 
refreshment.  His  missus  followed,  but  attracted 
by  Dandy's  fun  lagged  behind.  The  family  were 
clearly  on  a  holiday  and  in  holiday  mood  everything 
is  pleasing. 

"'E  is  a  comic,"  chuckled  the  woman,  nudging 
her  eldest  boy  to  appreciation. 

Pippin  nodded  to  her  in  friendliness.  "  'E  is  a 
comic,"  she  agreed,  and  catching  Dandy's  arm, 
drew  him  along. 

"  I  shall  tike  you  to  see  the  musical  comedy 
that  bit  I  sang  yer  comes  from,"  he  said.  "  It 's 
worth  it." 

"  You  will  be  a  spend'rift,"  laughed  Pippin. 


PIPPIN 

In  spite  of  her  frugal  mind,  she  admired  his  gen- 
erosity. 

"  But  I  saves  too,  old  gal,"  he  said.  "  I  've 
nothink  actually  put  by  now,  but  there  's  two  month 
coming  to  me  with  interest  —  ha'-penny  on  the 
shillin',  y'  know,  for  every  week  'is  lordship  is 
be'ind.  It 's  his  idea ;  'e  is  a  good  master  and  'e 
do  get  behind.  If  I  quite  run  out  of  small  change 
'e  lets  me  in  on  a  bit  o'  his,  and  does  n't  always  tike 
it  out  o'  me !  " 

Pippin  was  listening  and  thinking  and  hurrying 
her  lover  along. 

"  Now  about  this  lady  ?  "  he  asked. 

She  related  enthusiastically.  She  had  found  the 
lady  fainting  in  the  street  and  brought  her  home, 
rewarded  by  discovering  in  her  an  actress  —  down 
on  her  luck  and  about  to  take  cheaper  lodgings. 
She  would  pay  the  rent  and  stay  in  Jubilee  Court 
temporarily.  She  had  a  little  money  only,  but 
would  soon  have  plenty.  She  was  a  young  and 
lovely  lady  and  —  an  actress ! 

"If  she  's  looking  for  a  good  pl'y,  'is  lordship  is 
'er  man,"  said  Dandy. 

"  She  does  want  a  good  un,"  Pippin  replied,  "  but 
you  must  n't  forget  she 's  hard  up !  " 

"  'Is  lordship's  exact  case,"  reflected  Dandy. 
"  But  I  '11  stand  by  'im ;  he  s'ys  'is  future  depends 
on  me  standin'  by  'im!" 

Pippin  reflected. 


n6  PIPPIN 

"  I  Ve  got  to  stand  by  Miss  Lawrence,  too,  old 
chap,"  she  said  soberly.  "  She  '11  marry  way  up 
too  —  an  earl  maybe.  Oh,  I  Ve  such  a  feeling 
about  'er.  I  Ve  got  to  'elp  her!  " 

"  'Elp  her  buy  a  pl'y  ?  "  he  teased,  "  or  marry  — " 

"  G  'on,"  she  said,  banging  him,  "  you  don't 
know  actresses.  She  does  n't  want  a  whole  pl'y, 
only  a  bit  in  a  pl'y;  but  this  I  will  s'y;  /  wants  a 
situation !  I  Ve  been  hunting  till  I  near  dropped 
and  now  I  don't  know  where  to  turn ! " 

There  was  an  anxious  tremor  in  her  voice.  She 
glanced  up  at  him  desperately.  The  confession  hurt 
her  pride;  yet,  she  would  wish  him  to  tell  her,  if 
ever  she  could  help  him. 

"  You  're  worrited,  little  woman ! "  he  said 
quickly.  "  Why  'ave  n't  you  mentioned  it  before  ? 
I  don't  s'y  su'think  can  be  got  in  a  minute,  but  I 
s'y  it  can  be  got,  an'  Dandy  's  the  one  to  do  it  for 
you  —  the  one  to  'elp  you  in  everything  —  see?  " 

She  smiled  up  at  him,  with  a  little  sigh  of  relief. 
Dandy  seemed  to  be  thoughtfully  considering  a 
place  of  possible  opening;  he  pulled  his  cap  further 
over  his  eyes. 

"  Listen,"  she  said ;  "  anythink  to  start  like,  d'  yer 
see?" 

"  In  course,"  he  said,  "  when  it  comes  to  anythink 
permanent  which  you  '11  be  wanting  soon  too,  I 
'ope  you  '11  tike  me,  what?  " 

"  Yes,  Dandy,"  she  said.     "  I  will." 


PIPPIN  117 

Smiling,  he  drew  something  from  his  pocket  and 
handed  it  to  her. 

"  What  ho !  "  she  cried  in  delight.  "  I  'm  glad  to 
get  that !  'Ow  'd  you  ever  think  of  it  ?  " 

"  Next  thing,"  Dandy  said,  "  is  you  're  givin'  me 
a  likeness  of  yourself ;  it 's  customary  when  a 
couple's  walkin'  out,  y'  know ! " 

Just  then  he  caught  sight  of  her  shabby  little  shoe 
which  was  parting  company  with  the  sole.  "  You  '11 
take  that  shoe  round  to  Miles  in  Park  Walk,  above 
'ere,"  he  said.  "  It  won't  cost  you  a  penny  piece. 
I  '11  drop  in  there  first.  Miles  is  me  brother-in- 
lor',  dear,  but  a  widower  now.  He  's  the  one  I  was 
round  this  w'y  to  see  the  night  I  come  upon 
you." 

She  was  a  little  hurt  that  he  had  seen  her  shoe, 
yet  he  made  it  a  matter  of  such  tenderness  that  she 
accepted  good-humoredly. 

"  Right,  old  chap,  thank  you!  I  '11  be  in  clover 
soon  and  get  even  o'  you." 

"  That  night  I  'appened  round  and  found  you," 
he  continued  dreamily. 

"  I  must  be  off,"  Pippin  said,  looking  up  and  down 
the  street.  "  I  'm  goin'  to  see  about  su'think  in  the 
West  End." 

She  dropped  his  likeness  in  her  deep  pocket,  add- 
ing, "  I  am  pleased  with  that ;  it  '11  set  on  the  chest 
of  drawers." 

Dandy  consulted  a  large  watch  of  pinchbeck  metal 


n8  PIPPIN 

and  murmuring,  "  I  '11  be  off  too,  dear,"  they  shook 
hands. 

"  Don't  fret,  old  gal,  you  '11  'ear  from  Dandy 
soon !  "  he  promised. 

She  waited  until  from  the  top  of  an  omnibus 
he  waved  farewell  with  the  newest  things  in  tweed 
caps,  a  present  from  his  lordship. 

Then  she  continued  her  way  in  deep  reflection. 
She  had  truly  reckoned  without  Doll,  when  she  es- 
tablished herself  in  Jubilee  Court. 


CHAPTER  IX 


RAY  of  sunlight  came  in  the  win- 
dow, slanted  through  the  canary's 
cage  and  circled  round  a  pink  rose 
of  the  wall-paper.  Teddy  hastened 
into  his  bath,  fluttering  and  chatter- 
ing and  sending  out  little  waterfalls. 

Leonora  sat  up  in  bed  and  looked  at  the  tiny 
creature.     His    bath   finished,    the   canary   hopped 
upon  the  perch  and  began  preening  his  yellow  coat. 
"  You  lucky  little  monkey,"  the  young  lady  ob- 
served enviously,  "  you  are  sure  of  your  clothes." 

With  an  air  of  satisfaction  the  canary  chirped 
and  hopped.  He  picked  at  the  seeds.  He  scat- 
tered out  the  kind  least  cared  for  and  greedily  se- 
lected his  favorite  brand.  The  love-birds  across 
the  Court  twittered  sociably.  The  flutist  began  her 
practice.  Leonora  sighed.  She  looked  all  through 
the  Westminster  Gazette  again.  It  was  a  day-old 
paper  Pippin  had  given  her  to  read  while  her  pink- 
flounced  frock  was  being  pressed.  Pippin  had 
taken  it  below  to  the  apartments  of  Mrs.  Crimmins 
which,  as  the  caretaker  had  said,  were  more  con- 
venient for  working  in. 

119 


120  PIPPIN 

Leonora  was  thinking  of  her  clothes  left  at  Mrs. 
Penley's.  She  had  told  Pippin  about  leaving  her 
trunk  there,  but  the  news  had  seemed  to  occasion 
no  surprise  or  interest.  Leonora  put  aside  the  Ga- 
zette. She  reached  for  some  writing  materials  left 
upon  the  table  near  by  and  leaned  back  upon  her 
pillow.  She  began  a  letter.  She  wrote : 

London,  July  2. 
Dear  Charlie: 

For  this  note,  you  are  indebted  to  the  tardiness  of 
the  young  person  who  is  pressing  my  favorite  pink 
frock,  which  I  am  waiting  to  put  on.  I  have  moved 
from  Bloomsbury  Square.  I  am  living  in  the  dearest 
little  street  called  Jubilee  Court,  Chelsea.  I  am  much 
better  suited.  In  the  first  place  it  is  cheaper  and  next, 
the  quiet  seclusion  is  ideal  for  study.  I  shall  love 
committing  a  part  here.  You  will  laugh.  My  neigh- 
bor across  the  way  is  lady  flutist  in  the  Woman's  Band 
at  a  well-known  place  of  amusement  here,  called  the 
Earl's  Court  Exhibition.  She  practises  at  intervals 
all  day  long.  She  starts  out  every  evening  in  her  band 
costume,  which  is  a  skirt  and  coat  of  mouse  color 
with  red  braid  trimming  and  brass  buttons,  cap  to 
match.  A  little  procession  of  eager  children  escort 
her  out  of  the  Court.  Her  going  is  a  daily  spectacular 
event.  Her  flute  practice  is  music  to  the  ears  of 
Jubilee  Court.  Her  affections  are  centered  round  a 
cage  of  love-birds  that  also  serve  as  window  orna- 
ment. I  have  heard  from  the  caretaker  of  our  court 
that  the  birds  are  all  that  remains  of  her  recently 


PIPPIN  121 

blighted  dream  of  love.  I  have  heard  from  the  same 
source  that  she  "  p'ys  reg'lar !  "  I  quite  love  the  little 
street.  It  reminds  me  of  what  somebody  wrote  of 
the  "  sweet  security  of  streets ! "  And  the  two  rows 
of  little  houses,  with  their  white  door-stones  and 
green  doors  and  green  window-boxes  full  of  flowers ! 
And  the  quaint  small  windows!  Such  sturdy  houses 
they  are,  so  enduring,  like  the  inhabitants  upon  whom 
when  idle,  I  look  down  from  my  window,  for  their 
evenings  are  spent  passing  up  and  down,  chatting  and 
visiting  in  the  Court.  Oh,  yes,  and  last  night  a 
drunken  woman  strayed  in  from  the  Fulham  Road. 
A  young  man  came  and  got  her  away  with  the  awful 
threat  that  she  would  find  herself  in  "  Black  Maria 
in  two  twos  "  if  she  didn't  mind  his  warning.  I 
am  anxious  to  remain  in  London,  but  as  I  am  so 
impatient  of  more  apprenticeship,  and  minor  parts 
seem  to  be  the  prevailing  opportunity  for  a  town 
engagement,  a  lead  would  entice  me  en  tour. 

I  believe  I  hear  my  pink  dress  returning.  How 
are  the  Clarks?  Is  Elvira  still  bent  on  a  stage  career? 
Somehow,  I  do  not  think  her  fitted.  I  like  to  get  your 
letters. 

Yours  very  sincerely, 

L.  L. 

Leonora  looked  up  as  Pippin  came  in.  Her  pink 
frock  and  other  garments  dangled  over  Pippin's 
arm.  Everything  smelled  of  the  fresh  outdoors  and 
cleansing  sunshine. 

"  I  'ope  the  flutist  does  n't  burst  before  night 


122  PIPPIN 

comes,"  Pippin  observed.  "  They 's  nothink  but 
what  can  be  'ad  too  much  of,  /  s'y !  " 

She  looked  up  from  the  foot  of  the  bed  where 
she  was  spreading  out  the  clothes. 

"  What  I  means,  Miss,  is,  it 's  awright  to  'ear  a 
nice  flute  —  part  o'  the  time  like,  but  with  it  a-goin' 
an'  Missus  Crimmins  goin'  too,  about  'ow  reg'lar 
the  flutist  p'ys  'er  rent  — !" 

She  stopped. 

"  Is  our  rent  due?  "  Leonora  asked  quickly. 

"No  indeed!"  Pippin  cried.  "That's  just  it. 
If  ours  was  due,  I  could  bear  Missus  Crimmins 
goin'  on." 

Miss  Lawrence  began  counting  on  her  fingers, 
the  days  she  had  been  in  Jubilee  Court.  Pippin  hur- 
ried to  the  hall  to  fetch  the  water  for  her  lady's 
bath.  She  had  set  Miss  Lawrence  to  figuring  and 
worrying,  the  very  things  she  had  wished  to  spare 
her. 

"  I  've  got  the  next  week's  rent  put  by,  Miss," 
she  lied  serenely  as  she  came  back  to  the  room; 
"  they 's  nothink  to  fret  about  there.  Missus 
Crimmins's  idea  is  to  get  it  in  fortnightly  in  advance 
an'  I  don't  'old  with  that !  " 

"  Well,"  agreed  Miss  Lawrence,  "  not  when  one 
has  n't  much  of  anything  in  hand !  " 

She  looked  into  Pippin's  face,  thinking  she  missed 
some  expanse  of  ruddy  cheek.  Had  she  not  a  little 
less  color,  too? 


PIPPIN  123 

Pippin  had  as  usual  fastened  the  pink  frock  for 
Miss  Lawrence,  when  with  a  final  pat  on  the  last 
button  she  remarked  musingly,  "  It  is  queer  that 
manager,  Toby  'Amilton,  does  n't  write !  " 

Miss  Lawrence  took  up  her  gloves  and  purse  and 
the  letter  she  had  written,  before  she  answered. 

"  It  is  queer !  "  she  agreed. 

As  she  reached  the  door  Pippin  stopped  her  and 
pointed  to  the  fireplace  and  the  teapot. 

"  'Alf  a  mo',  Miss !  Now  could  you  get  yourself 
a  cup  of  tea  like,  s'y  I  wasn't  here  to  do  it  when 
you  come  in?  I  knows  yer !  "  she  jibed,  "  an'  I  'm 
afraid  you  'd  do  without  it,  if  I  was  n't  'ere  to  see 
to  it,  unless  you  promised  me  — " 

"  I  promise !  "  laughed  Leonora.  "  I  '11  get  my 
own  tea." 

"  Awright  then."  Pippin  looked  relieved. 
"  There 's  su-think  advertised  in  a  paper  I  could 
wish  I  'd  seen  before,  but  I  may  be  in  time  yet. 
It 's  off  Regent's  Park  way,  Miss,  over  in  St.  John's 
Wood  an'  it  '11  tike  some  time  to  get  there  an' 
back." 

"  Promise  me,  Pippin,  that  you  will  not  let  me, 
any  thought  of  me,  stand  in  the  way  of  your  tak- 
ing any  employment  you  can  get !  "  Miss  Lawrence 
insisted  earnestly. 

"  I  promises !  "  It  was  spoken  a  little  faintly,  but 
she  said  again,  "  In  course  —  I  promises." 

Leonora  stood  in  King's  Road  as  she  had  done 


124  PIPPIN 

every  morning  since  her  arrival  in  the  Court  and 
awaited  a  bus.  It  seemed,  as  Pippin  had  observed, 
rather  strange  that  Mr.  Toby  Hamilton  did  not  an- 
swer even  her  second  letter  asking  for  an  appoint- 
ment 

A  bus  drew  up,  with  the  accommodating  con- 
sideration of  a  private  equipage.  The  driver 
slashed  the  side  with  his  whip,  thus  informing  the 
conductor  of  a  prospective  passenger.  The  con- 
ductor with  the  well-paid  civility  of  a  private  foot- 
man leaped  aground,  and  eyeing  her  interrogatively 
murmured : 

"  Strand,  Charing  Cross,  Bank !  " 

He  took  her  arm,  put  her  into  the  bus  and  bawled 
out,  "Strike!" 

At  this  signal  the  omnibus  started  again  on  its 
way. 

"  Strand ;  Charing  Cross  ?  "  inquired  the  conduc- 
tor as  he  took  her  sixpence. 

She  nodded  absently. 

He  chose  a  little  red  ticket  from  a  packet  of  red, 
white  and  blue  ones  which  he  carried,  punched  it 
and  with  threepence  change  gave  it  to  her. 

"  Thank  you!"  Leonora  murmured  with  the  au- 
tomatic politeness  she  was  acquiring  in  London. 

She  gazed  at  the  red  ticket.  Her  preoccupation 
this  morning  had  cost  her  a  penny  extra.  She 
usually  rode  to  Piccadilly  Circus  for  twopence  and 
from  there  walked  to  the  manager's  offices.  She 


PIPPIN  125 

rode  on  to  Charing  Cross  now  and  here  the  bus 
stopped  and  the  conductor  beckoned  her  out. 

"  Where  do  you  wish  to  go,  Missy  ?  "  he  inquired 
politely,  as  she  paused  for  a  moment  on  the  walk. 

"  Norfolk  Street,  Strand,"  she  said  suddenly. 

Could  Pippin  have  seen  how  forlornly  uncertain 
her  lovely  young  lady  had  seemed  she  would  have 
sworn  eternal  friendship  to  the  conductor. 

"  You  can  walk  it,  Miss,  in  five  minutes,"  he 
told  her.  "  Str'ight  a'ead,  a  little  turnin'  to  your 
right,  leads  to  the  Embankment  —  can't  miss  it. 
It  'd  be  another  penny  to  ride !  " 

Leonora  took  this  for  what  it  was  intended,  well- 
meant  information.  One  might  take  a  cab  or  taxi 
but  ride  an  extra  penny's  worth  in  an  omnibus  — 
it  was  almost  never  done.  You  always  got  out  and 
walked  that  much.  She  thanked  the  conductor  and 
hurried  away,  leaving  him  on  the  pavement  crying, 
"Benk,  benk!  Benk  of  England  and  St.  Paul's 
Church-yard.  Liverpool  Street — " 

The  brakes  fell,  the  bus  rattled  on.  It  suddenly 
came  to  Leonora  what  a  busy  man  such  a  great 
personage  as  Mr.  Toby  Hamilton  must  be.  What 
hundreds  of  such  letters  as  hers  he  must  get! 
Sometimes  a  thing  is  yours  for  the  asking,  but  some- 
times again  a  thing  is  only  yours  by  the  most  per- 
sistent, and  ofttimes  audacious  endeavor  to  obtain 
it.  Leonora's  profession  was  not  one  in  which  to 
stand  back  and  wait.  A  little  hopeful  flush  tinted 


126  PIPPIN 

her  young  face  as  she  entered  Mr.  Hamilton's  of- 
fice building.  At  that  moment  a  pretty  woman  in 
huge  black  hat  and  turquoise  eardrops  trailed  her 
embroidery  anglaise  frock  out  of  the  lift.  She 
glanced  at  Leonora.  Her  happy  smile,  the  tilt  of 
head,  her  little  shrug  of  earnest  importance  indi- 
cated very  recently  achieved  good  fortune.  She 
hurried  out  to  a  waiting  cab,  conspicuously  direct- 
ing the  driver  with  a  blue,  paper-bound  manu- 
script. 

"  A  part !  "  Leonora  caught  the  thrill  of  her  ex- 
citement. 

Nothing  in  the  actress's  theatrical  manner  of- 
fended her.  It  had  been  simply  a  mark  of  joy 
which  the  little  woman  could  not  hide  from  a  sister 
of  her  profession. 

Leonora  stepped  into  the  lift,  hope  beating  high. 
She  asked  the  guard  to  put  her  out  on  Mr.  Hamil- 
ton's floor.  The  top  of  his  door  was  glass  and 
across  this  in  black  letters  the  name  T.  H.  Hamil- 
ton and  his  office  hours.  Her  first  glance  into  the 
main  room,  lit  upon  a  printed  request  nailed  to  the 
wall. 

"  Interviews  not  granted  without 
previous  appointment." 

Within  a  little  fenced  inclosure  a  young  woman 
wearing  a  heavy  fringe  left  some  papers,  and  with 
an  air  of  awful  boredom  confronted  the  caller. 


PIPPIN  127 

Leonora  lifted  her  glance  again  to  the  placard  and 
laughed  lightly. 

"  I  have  n't  an  appointment,"  she  confided  in  a 
very  winning  manner.  "  I  have  written  for  one, 
though,  twice  and  Mr.  Hamilton  does  n't  answer ! " 

The  stenographer  remained  unmoved,  lifting  her 
brows  noncommittally. 

"  I  might  send  in  my  card  ?  "  Leonora  ventured 
to  suggest. 

The  stenographer  looked  at  the  big  clock  above 
the  printed  placard  and  compared  it  to  the  gun- 
metal  watch  pinned  to  her  blouse.  Then  she  opened 
the  gate  of  her  little  fence  and  came  out,  threw 
open  a  door  at  her  left  and  as  she  took  Leonora's 
card,  waved  her  into  the  small  room.  She  returned 
through  the  main  room  to  one  across  and  labeled 
private,  knocked  and  went  in. 

Leonora  thought  of  Mahomet  and  the  mountain; 
would  Mahomet  come  to  her  or  send  for  her  to  go 
to  him?  She  must  contrive  a  graceful  attitude  in 
case  of  the  former.  She  rose  and  shook  out  her 
pink  ruffles,  pushed  the  chair  to  one  side,  sank  back 
in  a  simple  sideways  posture  and  leaned  her  chin 
upon  her  hand,  elbow  gracefully  propped  upon  the 
chair-arm.  She  relaxed  her  features  to  appear 
calm,  smiled  not  to  seem  severe  or  depressed,  but 
kept  sober  enough  to  appear  in  earnest. 

Suddenly  something  bumped  into  her  chair  from 
behind.  She  jumped  to  her  feet. 


128  PIPPIN 

"  I  beg  your  pardon !  "  some  one  apologized.  A 
tall  man  faced  her  through  a  half  open  door  back 
of  the  chair. 

"  It 's  all  my  fault/'  stammered  Leonora.  "  I 
did  n't  see  the  door." 

She  looked  greatly  discomfited.  He  came  into 
the  room,  closing  the  door.  Then  he  applied  a 
monocle,  looked  more  closely  at  her  and  smiled. 

"  I  never  come  in  that  door  —  never  do!  "  He 
pointed  to  the  door.  "  I  always  come  in  the  main 
entrance."  He  waved  his  hat  toward  the  outside 
room.  "  I  must  have  startled  you !  " 

"  Just  a  little  — "  she  smiled  too. 

He  was  a  broad,  tall,  well-dressed  Englishman 
with  a  beaky  nose  and  appeared  most  amiable.  The 
private  door  opened.  Leonora  moved  forward  and 
met  the  impressive  countenance  of  the  stenographer. 

"  Mr.  Hamilton  can't  spare  the  time  this  morn- 
ing," she  enunciated  clearly.  "  And  he  can't  give 
you  a  definite  appointment  either,  but  about  ten  one 
morning  the  last  of  this  week.  If  you  'd  care  to 
chance  it  that  way  he  might  manage  to  see  you! 
Sorry!" 

Leonora  turned  abruptly  away.  She  resented 
the  "  Sorry  " !  that  was  not  Mr.  Hamilton's.  She 
glanced  up  at  the  Englishman.  As  she  went  out, 
she  heard  him  say: 

"  Granville,  yes !     Mr.  Bertram  Granville !     Yes, 


PIPPIN  129 

yes  —  sent  for  me  and  I  'm  here,  tell  him,  please. 
He 's  got  the  scenario  — " 

She  returned  to  the  lift,  vaguely  conscious  of 
having  heard  the  Englishman's  name  before.  And 
she  was  not  wholly  downcast.  One  day  next  week. 
Yes,  she  would  try  again  and  yet  again.  And 
Pippin  had  said  she  could  manage  the  rent  once 
more.  They  would  economize  on  food.  And  she 
must  urge  Pippin  to  keep  her  reminded  of  the 
broad  a's  and  delicate  r's  she  wished  to  acquire. 
She  returned  to  the  Strand  and  walked  along  in  the 
direction  of  Trafalgar  Square.  She  took  another 
little  turning,  came  to  an  uninviting  entrance  and 
at  the  top  of  a  narrow  flight  of  stairs,  paused  be- 
fore the  door  of  a  "  Dramatic  Agency."  The 
words  were  printed  here,  too,  in  black  letters  on  the 
glass  panel  with  the  invitation  to  "  Walk  In  " :  and 
below  this  at  either  side  in  the  lower  corners  the 
names  of  the  agency's  managers,  "  Mr.  Harvey 
Worthington  Logan "  and  "  Mr.  Martin  Henry 
Hart."  Leonora  walked  in. 

The  room  was  full  this  morning.  It  reeked  of 
scent  and  tobacco  smoke.  In  spite  of  her  self- 
assurance,  Leonora  experienced  always  an  embar- 
rassing shyness  upon  entering  an  agency  and 
becoming  for  that  moment  the  center  of  attentive 
wonder.  She  had  never  tried  agencies  until  lately. 
She  slipped  into  the  nearest  chair. 


130  PIPPIN 

Mounting  the  ladder  of  Fame  was  a  difficult 
business,  she  knew,  but  sight  of  this  patient  waiting 
saddened  her.  The  heavy  man  stalking  restlessly, 
portraying  his  gloom!  The  leading  lady's  emo- 
tional dignity  stirring  the  lace  of  her  fichu,  as  she 
sits  pale,  under  a  drooping  feather.  The  sou- 
brette's  smile,  her  flashing  teeth,  keen  eyes  upon 
the  private  sanctum  of  Messrs.  Logan  and  Hart. 
It  was  only  fear  of  leaving  a  stone  unturned  that 
brought  Leonora  to  the  agencies.  She  was  sorry 
to  come,  too,  for  the  environment  intimidated  her 
at  a  time  when  she  needed  her  whole  strength.  It 
made  her  think  of  Charlie  Browne  .and  Goshen, 
Indiana  —  not  longingly  she  said  to  herself,  just 
lovingly.  Then  she  tried  to  think  of  her  profes- 
sional sisters  less  seriously,  to  imagine  them,  too, 
with  a  home  they  had  deserted  for  Art!  She 
began  observing  them  more  lightly.  The  ladies  all 
would  wear  huge  flopping  hats  with  feathers,  some 
more  and  some  less  ancient,  but  feathers,  always 
feathers. 

At  home  she  reflected,  a  faded  hat  was  so  neatly 
hidden  under  veils.  Leonora  was  planning  a  color 
of  veil  for  a  thin  little  creature  with  a  hectic  spot 
on  each  cheek,  when  a  man  created  a  commotion  by 
jumping  up,  his  watch  open  in  his  hand  and  shout- 
ing. 

"  There  's  not  a  person  passed  in  or  out  of  that 
room  since  I  came  here  an  hour  ago !  "  He  pointed 


PIPPIN  131 

at  the  manager's  private  office,  walked  across  the 
room,  and  threw  open  the  door. 

Everybody  rose  and  peered  after  him. 

A  boy  sat  at  a  desk,  his  feet  upon  it,  enjoying  a 
comic  paper. 

"  What  does  it  mean  ? "  demanded  the  man. 
"  Where  is  Mr.  Harvey,  or  Mr.  Logan  ?  " 

The  boy  stumbled  up,  for  an  instant  speechless. 
Then  he  nodded  at  another  door ;  it  was  a  convenient 
exit. 

"  Mr.  'Arvey  's  been  called  to  a  theater  unex- 
pectedly and  Mr.  Logan  will  be  in  any  minute, 
sir!"  ' 

"  Gad !  "  cried  the  man. 

He  turned  and  swung  out  through  the  crowd. 

For  a  moment  Leonora  was  sickened  and  dis- 
couraged. This  sort  of  ill  luck  was  unusual, 
she  knew,  and  probably  Mr.  Hart  and  Mr.  Logan 
had  nothing  to  offer  anybody  and  deeming  it  un- 
business-like  to  close  their  doors  to  the  hopeful 
comers,  they  had  just  slipped  out  like  that.  It  was 
unkind  but  after  all  they,  too,  were  human. 

Leonora  went  out.  There  were  other  agencies 
she  could  try.  But  at  last,  very  weary  and  yet 
hopeful  of  what  might  come  of  seeing  the  great 
Mr.  Hamilton,  she  thought  she  would  return  to 
Jubilee  Court.  She  remembered  that  little  Pippin 
was  out,  too,  seeking  work  and  wondered  about  her 
luck,  anxiously,  for  Pippin  was  trying,  bravely! 


I32  PIPPIN 

At  least  Leonora  rejoiced,  she  had  done  right  in 
staying  in  Jubilee  Court!  She  decided  then  to  go 
to  the  theater  of  The  Tenderfoot's  late  failure 
where  the  kindly  old  doorman  at  the  stage-entrance 
kept  her  letters. 

There  was  one  from  Charlie  Browne.  When 
she  found  herself  very  eager  for  its  contents,  she 
firmly  placed  it  in  her  bag,  unopened.  She  re- 
turned to  Piccadilly  Circus,  and  climbed  to  the  top 
of  the  bus  that  would  take  her  back  to  Jubilee  Court. 


CHAPTER  X 

HE  flute  was  getting  on  Leonora's 
nerves.  Her  dark  moments  of  de- 
pression were  constantly  being  ren- 
dered more  drear  by  the  gay  notes 
which  seemed  to  flaunt  the  contrast- 
ing circumstances  of  her  neighbor.  At  times  she 
wished  she  owned  a  musical  instrument,  something 
to  give  forth  a  loud  noise,  a  trombone  for  instance. 
.With  that  she  could  drown  out  the  flute. 

The  flutist  had  a  gay  new  cap  to  her  uniform. 
It  was  red,  in  place  of  the  gray  one  only  banded 
with  red.  She  wore  it  as  jauntily  as  Pippin  did 
hers  of  fur.  And  another  thing,  the  flutist's  man- 
ner had  changed. 

Leonora  had  been  nine  days  in  Jubilee  Court  a>nd 
having  seen  her  every  day  from  the  first  had  at 
once  noticed  the  change.  Something  decidedly 
pleasant  must  have  happened.  She  was  not  the 
creature  that  had  formerly  departed,  drooping, 
from  the  street  every  evening  to  her  task  at  the 
Earl's  Court  Exhibition.  She  went  now  in  a  man- 
ner that  became  the  new  red  cap  and  new,  high- 
heeled,  patent-leather  slippers.  She  laughed  with 

9  133 


134  PIPPIN 

the  children  who  formed  her  admiring  and  nightly 
escort.  She  walked  more  briskly.  Probably  the 
light  and  life  of  her  existence,  of  whose  cruel  treat- 
ment Mrs.  Crimmins  had  spoken,  had  come  back, 
or  had  she  got  a  new  one ! 

At  this  notion  Leonora  gave  a  little  sniff.  Char- 
lie Browne's  last  two  letters  were  still  unanswered. 
Leonora  decided  now  after  some  reflection  to  send 
him  a  reply.  This  was  contrary  to  her  resolve  of 
a  few  minutes  previous.  It  had  seemed  as  well  not 
to  write  any  more  to  Charlie.  There  was  nothing 
that  thrilled  of  success  to  relate. 

The  first  of  Mr.  Browne's  letters  began  as  usual 
on  the  business  sheet  of  his  pump  concern  of  Goshen, 
Indiana. 

Dear  Runaway: 

Why  no  word  from  you?  Has  old  London  swal- 
lowed you  up,  my  little  Molly?  There,  I  should  not 
have  inserted  that  my,  but  if  I  cross  it  out  you  will 
be  more  sure  to  see  —  so  I  leave  it  for  you  to  erase. 
I  have  the  New  York  papers  but  fail  to  find  any  ac- 
count of  "  The  Tenderfoot " !  The  Clarks  ask  me 
about  you  —  do  let  me  hear.  I  should  like  to  enlighten 
them.  Elvira  is  not  certain  which  is  best,  a  year  at 
a  dramatic  academy,  or  to  plunge  right  in  and  seek 
a  beginning  in  the  theater !  If  you  let  me  know  your 
opinion  I  can  tell  her.  Funny  how  all  the  girls  here 
seem  to  be  daffy  about  the  stage.  Sid  Long  does  n't 
want  Elvira  Clark  to  go  on  the  stage.  Next  I  sup- 


PIPPIN  135 

pose  she  will  take  to  London.     But  no,  she 's  not 
daring  enough.     I  beg  for  news  of  you. 

Yours  always, 

C. 

The  other  letter,  which  had  quickly  followed,  be- 
gan anxiously: 

Dear  Molly: 

The  Clarks  tell  me  they  have  heard  from  somebody 
who  saw  "  The  Tenderfoot "  in  London,  that  the  play 
was  a  fiasco  and  would  only  run  the  week  out.  Then 
in  that  case,  you  are  coming  back  aren't  you,  dear 
child  ?  Of  course  not  to  me.  I  am  not  so  presuming, 
but  you  will  come  back  to  America. 

The  pump  business  is  splendid.  Two  recent  orders 
from  the  East  startled  our  little  town.  I  am  in  sev- 
eral minds  as  to  buying  a  car  —  there  are  so  many 
makes !  There  is  a  great  chance  too,  to  get  a  fine, 
stone  house  here,  really  a  good  investment.  It  is  n't 
quite  complete  but  the  man  has  gone  broke.  He  has 
to  get  the  thing  off  his  hands.  I  Ve  about  decided 
to  snap  it  up.  Sid  Long  would  take  it  and  on  the 
level  I  believe  Elvira  would  let  him,  if  it  was  n't  for 
disappointing  her  mother.  Mrs.  Clark  likes  Sid  all 
right,  but  she  wants  Elvira  to  set  the  world  afire  and 
let  Sid  go  hang.  He  's  a  nice  fellow  too.  I  'm  sorry 
for  old  Sid  Long. 

Say,  Molly,  you  won't  stick  over  there  now,  will  you  ? 
Maybe  you  're  already  on  your  way  back.  Hurrah ! 
I  just  want  to  feel  you  're  back,  home  again,  safe, 
that 's  all.  Don't  be  afraid  to  let  me  know.  I  promise 


136  PIPPIN 

never  to  bother  you  again.  I  ought  to  hear  from 
you  next  English  mail.  A  cable  is  quickest  if  every- 
thing is  n't  all  right.  God  bless  you, 

C. 

Leonora  excused  her  pang  of  tenderness  upon 
the  reflection  that  the  letter  would  move  an  ice- 
berg. And  she  was  not  an  iceberg.  She  was  very 
fond  of  Charlie  Browne.  She  glanced  at  his  pic- 
ture on  the  chest  of  drawers.  It  was  too  bad. 
But  their  paths  lay  apart.  Pumps  and  the  stage! 
Goshen,  Indiana,  was  a  lovely  spot.  As  she  looked 
back  it  seemed  lovelier  than  ever  before.  The 
people  there,  too,  were  really  awfully  nice.  She 
had  no  family  of  her  own,  just  some  cousins  with 
whom  she  could  have  lived  and  been  very  welcome, 
but  she  had  not  cared  to. 

She  felt  certain  now  as  she  thought  of  them 
that  she  could  never  go  back  to  Goshen  until  she 
had  made  a  name.  The  cousins  had  not  predicted 
success  for  Leonora.  They  were  very  narrow,  if 
nice,  cousins  with  a  restricted  appreciation  of  the 
artistic  temperament. 

Leonora  determined  upon  a  candid  letter  to 
Charlie.  She  would  not  deceive  him,  yet  neither 
could  she  write  things  to  worry  him.  She  began: 

London,  July  — . 
Dear  Charlie: 

Before  this  you  have  got  my  letter  about  "The 
Tenderfoot's  "  failure  and  my  intention  to  remain  in 


PIPPIN  137 

England  in  search  of  something  else.  I  have  n't  found 
anything  suitable  yet,  but  when  one  is  thrown  out  by 
a  play's  failure  at  the  height  of  a  season  it  is  not  so 
easy  to  get  another  engagement  —  a  part  one  likes. 
"  Hope  deferred  maketh  the  heart  sick  " —  but  I  am 
not  a  bit  that  way.  I  am  enjoying  London  and  study- 
ing the  types. 

I  have  never  told  you  about  Mr.  Toby  Hamilton. 
He  is  the  greatest  man  in  London.  He  has  achieved 
it.  His  greatness  was  not  thrust  upon  him  like  King 
Edward's.  Mr.  Hamilton  achieved  greatness  first,  by 
treating  all  in  this  profession  with  whom  he  came  in 
contact,  like  the  dirt  beneath  his  feet.  To-day  he  did 
that  to  me.  Yet  I  am  not  annoyed  and  the  hope 
that  lay  with  him  is  only  deferred  and  my  heart  is 
pounding  normally.  It  is  something  to  have  seen  him. 
I  have  just  come  from  the  interview.  I  had  called 
six  times  before  I  went  to-day ;  one  day  I  went  twice. 
He  did  not  get  up  when  I  was  shut  into  his  lair  by 
his  stenographer,  or  even  look  up  until  I  stumbled 
over  my  own  parasol  and  trying  to  cover  my  con- 
fusion sat  down  in  the  wrong  chair.  He  wanted  me 
to  sit  in  the  chair  beside  his  desk,  where  the  light 
glared  in  my  eyes.  Anyhow  my  complexion  could 
stand  it !  There  was  a  little  center  square  of  colored 
glass  in  the  window  above  him  and  it  made  the  oddest 
luster  round  the  top  of  Mr.  Hamilton's  head,  which 
is  quite  bald.  It  had  the  effect  of  a  halo  and  I  thought 
of  Saint  Anthony,  whom  an  Irish  wardrobe  mistress 
in  New  York  told  me  was  my  patron  saint.  Before 
I  had  given  myself  away  by  my  accent,  Mr.  Ham- 


PIPPIN 

ilton  burst  out :  "  What  /  can't  understand,  is  how 
you  aspiring  young  Americans  all  get  over  here! 
Where  do  you  get  the  money  ? "  Now  money  is  not 
ever  supposed  to  be  an  Englishman's  concern.  He 
has  it  or  he  hasn't,  but  he  does  not  talk  about  it. 
He  leaves  it  to  the  American,  whose  first  inquiry 
upon  presentation  to  a  British  subject  of  sufficiently 
prosperous  appearance  is  reputed  to  be,  "  What  did 
you  make  your  money  in  ?  "  This  is  the  Englishman's 
joke.  If  you  ever  come  to  London,  do  not  ask  it  — 
do  not  speak  of  pumps!  I  digress.  I  began  telling 
Mr.  Hamilton  at  once  how  I  had  come  with  "  The 
Tenderfoot "  company  from  New  York  —  the  man- 
agement having  brought  us  over.  He  was  interested 
in  this.  I  assured  him  that  I  meant  to  succeed  in 
London.  That  was  why  I  had  stayed.  I  even  ad- 
mitted that  I  am  a  runaway !  A  runaway  from  those 
at  home,  whom  while  loving  me  still  will  not  consider 
my  ambition  and  determination  to  win  out  in  my  art. 
I  said  to  him,  "  Mr.  Hamilton,  I  am  sure  I  have 
something  in  me !  "  Before  he  replied  he  considered 
me  very  seriously;  seriously  and  approvingly  so  that 
I  feel  something  will  come  of  the  interview.  They 
say  he  never  commits  himself  until  he  actually  signs 
you.  His  answer  to  my  expressed  conviction  of  my 
own  talent  was  too  evasive !  "  My  child,  is  it  Indiana 
or  Michigan  that  you  bring  those  r's  from?  I  con- 
fuse the  two  states,  having  stopped  so  briefly  in  each." 
For  a  moment  I  was  hurt,  but  only  for  a  moment. 
My  humor  stirred  me  from  the  heap  of  dust  I  had 
been  crushed  to  and  I  suddenly  laughed.  Then  after 


PIPPIN  139 

a  long  stony,  staring  silence  Mr.  Hamilton  too,  laughed. 
He  promised  to  remember  me  and  took  my  address. 
I  did  not  make  a  stumbling  exit.  He  saw  me  to  the 
door.  He  said,  "  Good  morning,  Miss  Lawrence !  " 

The  theater  of  "  The  Tenderfoot's  "  late  failure  is 
closed  but  the  old  door-keeper  is  always  at  the  stage 
entrance  and  lovely  about  looking  after  my  letters,  so 
address  me  as  before.  This  is  wholly  about  myself, 
but  you  asked  me  to  write  about  myself.  About  El- 
vira; I  think  her  unfitted  for  the  stage,  and  I 
shouldn't  be  surprised  if  Sid  Long  won  out,  either. 
Elvira  always  liked  him.  Let  me  know  what  kind  of 
car  you  buy  and  all  about  the  house.  It  would  be  a 
good  investment.  Will  you  and  your  mother  live  in 
it?  I  am  so  glad  your  business  is  going  on  well. 
Yours  always  sincerely, 

MOLLY. 

Leonora  half  heartedly  sealed  her  letter.  It 
seemed  a  little  as  though  she  was  fooling  Charlie 
Browne.  It  would  have  been  honest  —  and 
would  n't  it  have  been  courageous  to  admit  her 
predicament  ? 

Uncertain  footsteps  came  toward  the  door,  it 
opened  and  Pippin,  grinning,  lurched  rakishly  in. 
To  Leonora  her  appearance  betokened  happy  sat- 
isfaction in  achievement. 

"  You  've  found  employment,  Pippin ! "  she 
cried,  rising  to  meet  the  girl. 

Pippin  nodded,  raised  one  eyebrow  and  see- 
sawed toward  the  table. 


140  PIPPIN 

"'Ave  it  your  own  w'y,  Miss  Lawrence!  Any- 
think  you  like." 

She  sat  upon  the  edge  of  the  table,  eyed  the  .floor, 
and  mused  humorously. 

"  I  've  been  engiged  to  teash  Princess,  'igh-nobs, 
what 's  'er  name  —  to  teash  'er  to  pick  pockets !  " 

Leonora  recoiled  from  the  tipsy  little  creature. 
Eyes  searched  for  her  hat,  yearned  toward  the 
door.  Pippin  shrewdly  caught  the  meaning  of  the 
measured  glance. 

"  Don't  go !  "  she  said  convivially.  "  I  got  you 
su'think  too.  You  're  to  dance  and  sing  a  bit  by 
command  — " 

"  Be  quiet !  "  commanded  Leonora  desperately. 

"  I  won't,"  replied  Pippin.  "  By  command  of 
'Is  Royal  'Ighness — "  she  threw  a  heavy-eyed 
glance  at  the  picture  of  her  revered  king.  "  By 
'is, command,  you  're  to  caper  about  and  sing  a  bit 
at  Windsor  Castle  — " 

"  Pippin,"  Leonora  urged,  daring  a  few  steps 
nearer  her.  "  Won't  you  take  off  your  cap  and  lie 
down  —  over  there  on  your  little  bed  ?  " 

Pippin  struck  her  cap  instantly  to  the  floor. 

"  But  I  won't  go  to  bed ! " 

She  stood  up  defiantly. 

"  Yes,  you  will,"  returned  Leonora  quietly. 

Pippin  waved  her  arms. 

"  Don't  try  puttin'  me  to  bed !  Me  ways  is  not 
lovin'  when  I'm — " 


PIPPIN  141 

But  as  Leonora  backed  away,  Pippin  laughed. 
She  lurched  toward  her. 

"  You  pore  gal,  you  are  afeared  o'  me !  " 

"  Yes,  Pippin !  "  Leonora  humored.  "  Yes,  I  'm 
afraid  of  you."  She  retreated  to  the  window. 

Pippin  stopped,  eyeing  her  regretfully. 

"  S'  too  bad !  Let 's  sing,"  she  suddenly  in- 
vited. "  Somewhere  the  sun  is  shinnin  —  ing. 
You  won't,  eh  ?  Very  well  I  '11  go  to  bed  to  please 
yer!" 

She  turned  toward  the  white  muslin  curtains, 
walked  forward  and  clutching  them  looked  back  at 
Leonora.  Some  consciousness  of  misdemeanor, 
of  fearful  awakening,  broke  through  the  cloud 
upon  her  brain. 

"  Don'  mike  off  now,  Missy  darling.  I  want  — 
a  tell  yer  'ow  this  'appened!  Mind,"  she  cried, 
waving  a  fist,  "  I  could  n't  even  get  a  — "  suitable 
adjective  seemed  wanting,  "  milk  cart  to  push. 
Ain't  that  enough  to — " 

She  swung  round,  threw  up  both  arms  and 
slipped  backward  between  the  curtains,  noisily,  into 
her  bed. 

Pallid,  shocked  and  trembling,  Leonora  stood  star- 
ing at  the  two  protruding  and  undignified  little  feet. 
Pippin  muttered  unintelligibly  in  a  sorrowing  voice. 
"  Pubs "  were  always  handy  she  stated  thickly. 
Too  handy.  Anybody  could  drop  into  a  pub  and 
be  comfy. 


142  PIPPIN 

"  It 's  a  beautiful  shame  too ! "  she  regretted. 

But  very  quickly  she  subsided  in  sleep.  Leo- 
nora put  on  her  hat,  caught  lip  her  bag  and  letters 
and  went  to  the  door.  Her  hand  upon  the  knob, 
she  halted.  She  looked  back  —  but  the  wanton- 
ness of  those  protruding  shoes  between  the  cur- 
tains! They  represented  a  predicament  sadly  low 
in  life,  association  with  which  Leonora  almost  be- 
lieved she  never  could  live  down.  If  Charlie 
Browne  knew  of  this. 

She  opened  the  door  and  walked  downstairs, 
slowly  along  the  street.  But  she  could  not  think 
immediately  for  herself,  only  for  Pippin.  Left 
like  this,  the  child  would  be  thrown  into  the  street. 
And  it  was  not  alone  that.  Waking,  realizing  her 
slip  —  Leonora  was  sure  this  was  a  backward  slip 
in  her  intended  reformation  —  Pippin  would  be 
driven  to  desperation.  Pity  mingling  with  tried, 
but  truly  growing,  affection  for  this  youthful  des- 
perado, moved  her,  turned  her  back. 

She  reached  the  room  again,  hurried  to  the  cur- 
tains, seized  Pippin's  ankles  and  placed  her,  with 
desperate  patience  in  a  more  proper,  not  to  say 
comfortably  reclining  attitude. 

Leonora  then  bolted  the  door  and  prepared  to 
resist  visitors.  She  sat  down  and  with  worthy  ef- 
fort fixed  her  mind  upon  the  stories  of  a  tu'penny 
booklet  recently  lent  by  Mrs.  Crimmins. 

She  determined  not  to  dwell  in  thought  upon  the 


PIPPIN  143 

sleeper.  At  any  rate  she  slept  on,  quietly,  and  was 
giving  no  further  offense.  Night  came  and  Leo- 
nora, dutiful  to  Pippin's  sober  memory,  made  her- 
self a  cup  of  tea  and  then  she  too  went  to  bed. 

A  big  clock  somewhere  over  London  struck  the 
hours,  each  one  finding  Leonora  still  awake. 
Sometime  past  midnight  she  got  out  of  bed  and 
kneeling  beside  it,  said  a  little  prayer  of  her  child- 
hood. Afterwards,  she  presently  slept.  It  was 
just  before  daybreak  that  cautious  movements 
awakened  her.  She  listened.  It  was  Pippin! 

"  Pippin !  "  she  called  sharply. 

No  answer. 

Leonora  reached  for  candle  and  matches  she  had 
placed  near  her  bed.  The  light,  raised  high,  re- 
vealed Pippin,  crouching,  head  hanging  in  all  the 
agony  of  debasement. 

"  What  are  you  doing  there  ?  "  demanded  Leo- 
nora. 

"  I  'm  going  —  away." 

Leonora  left  her  bed. 

"  Why  are  you  going?  " 

"  So  's  yer  won't  need  to  go  yourself." 

She  was  a  trembling,  pitiable  little  object. 

"  You  've  no  place  to  go,"  Leonora  reminded,  as 
Pippin  had  once  done  with  her. 

Pippin  raised  her  head. 

"  There  's  the  bottom  o'  the  river,  Miss  —  for  the 
likes  o'  me !  " 


144  PIPPIN 

Leonora  smothered  a  cry. 

"  That  is  a  coward's  talk ! "  she  said,  assuming 
scorn. 

Perhaps  a  little  relief  came  into  Pippin's  face. 

"  I  've  stayed  with  you  — "  it  was  hard  to  taunt, 
but  Leonora  knew  no  other  way.  "  I  stayed  when 
I  was  tempted  to  leave  you  —  yesterday.  I 
wanted  you  to  know,  that  I  knew,  that  yesterday 
was  your  last  slip — " 

The  little  head  lifted.  Hope,  life  came  back  to 
Pippin's  face. 

"  The  last !  "  nodded  Leonora. 

Then  having  adopted  stern  tactics,  she  raised  a 
commanding  finger. 

"  Go  to  bed,  Pippin.  Undress  and  —  go  to  bed 
properly ! " 

Pippin  shuffled  across  the  room,  seized  the  out- 
stretched hand  and  kissed  it  passionately.  Then 
she  went  back  to  her  bed. 

Morning  broke,  the  morning  after!  Pippin's 
shame  enveloped  her.  She  was  certain  of  nothing 
—  except  her  past  life.  Very  possibly  it  was  to 
be  the  same  in  future.  She  made  no  resolutions. 
Only  —  Miss  Lawrence,  the  best  and  most  beauti- 
ful of  beings,  believed  the  past  —  was  passed  — 
with  yesterday. 

And  when  they  were  up  facing  the  new  day,  she 
behaved  as  though  what  she  said  she  believed,  was 
already  true.  They  had  just  finished  a  meager 


Pippin  penitent 


PIPPIN  147 

breakfast  when  Mrs.  Crimmins  dropped  in.  She 
was  amiable  and  did  not  come,  it  seemed,  to  dun. 

"  Nothink  but  good  luck  ever  fell  to  any  one  in 
this  room — "  she  had  but  cheerfully  begun,  when 
in  the  hall  a  deadly  calm  voice  spoke. 

"  Mother,  are  you  in  that  room  ?  " 

It  was  Mrs.  Crimmins's  turn  to  show  alarm. 

"  That 's  my  Sally,  upon  me  word !  "  she  said, 
in  surprise. 

She  bucked  up  and  herself  opened  the  door  to 
her  daughter. 

Standing  there,  his  hand  in  Sally's,  a  little  crea- 
ture peered  out  eagerly  from  under  a  peaked  cap. 
Pippin  cried  out  and  opened  her  arms.  Into  them 
leaped  the  boy. 

"  I  s'y,  but  I  'ave  missed  yer,  Pip ! " 

He  suffered  her  embraces  gladly,  even  in  the 
presence  of  so  many,  and  when  finally  she  released 
him,  tucked  his  hand  within  hers. 

"  Come  and  speak  to  the  pretty  lady,"  urged 
Pippin,  leading  him  forward. 

Here  again  he  shyly  suffered  a  kiss  with  every 
one  looking  on. 

"  We  've  come  part  way  by  train  an'  part  way 
by  bus,"  he  said,  addressing  them  all ;  "  ain't  we, 
Aunt  Sally?  This  is  me  new  trousers  an'  blouse, 
Aunt  Sally  made  from  'er  old  blue  cotton  skirt." 

He  was  hardly  the  same  boy  Mrs.  Crimmins's 
Sally  had  taken  away.  He  strutted  toward  her, 


148  PIPPIN 

took  her  hand  and  looking  up  stood  waiting  for 
her  to  speak.  All  waited. 

Sally  had  maintained  a  stern  manner,  her  eye 
fixing  her  mother  accusingly. 

"  You  know,  Mother,  you  've  not  done  right  by 
me !  "  she  said  quietly.  "  I  've  been  imposed  on." 

Receiving  no  answer  from  the  plainly  abashed 
Mrs.  Crimmins,  she  turned  to  Pippin. 

"  I  can't  keep  him  for  nothin'  and  be  imposed 
on,  so  I  Ve  come  to  throw  him  back  on  your 
hands!" 

"  She  said  she  should  do  it,  Pippin,"  little  Hal 
added.  "  Ain't  yer  no  money  ?  Has  Dad  been 
after  it  ag'in?" 

"  Very  well !  "  said  Pippin,  eying  Sally.  "  I  'm 
very  glad  to  'ave  'im  back  then.  Did  I  ask  you 
to  tike  'im?" 

"  Indeed,"  Sally  suddenly  reversed  her  tactics. 
"  Glad  to  have  him  back,  are  you  ?  Well,  you  '11 
pay  me  for  his  keep  before  you  '11  have  him  back ! 
I  shall  'old  him  for  board  and  lodging.  There! 
He  can  work." 

She  looked  from  Pippin  to  Mrs.  Crimmins  and 
then  at  the  young  lady  who  came  forward. 

"  Who  's  going  to  pay  ?  "  she  inquired,  nodding 
the  vivid  poppy  of  her  small  black  hat. 

"  Sally,"    said   her    mother,    "  what 's    got    into 


yer? 


Never  you  mind  about  that,  Mother.    Haven't 


PIPPIN  149 

I  been  imposed  on?  Have  you  done  right?  You 
got  me  to  take  this  boy.  It  was  to  help  yourself 
get  in  a  lodger  too !  And  what  happens  ?  A  week 
and  more  passes  and  I  gets  nothin'  but  sauce  from 
you  on  a  picture  postcard.  What  about  Bertie  an' 
Arthur's  money,  too?  Now,  Mother,  where  you 
frittering  away  your  wages  ?  " 

"  Come  downstairs,  Sally,"  Mrs.  Crimmins  said 
coaxingly,  tugging  at  Sally's  beaded  mantle. 

Sally  was  difficult  in  her  quiet  way. 

"  May  I  suggest,"  interposed  Miss  Lawrence, 
"that  little  Hal  is  left  here.  Then  Pippin  or  I 
will  see,  Miss  Crimmins,  that  you  get — " 

"  I  'm  Mrs.  Taylor  by  name,"  broke  in  Sally. 

Leonora  rose. 

"  One  of  us  will  see  to  it,  Mrs.  Taylor,  that  you 
receive  the  money  for  the  little  boy's  — " 

"  Look  here,"  Sally  said,  moving  quickly  toward 
Leonora.  "  Do  you  guarantee  me  the  money, 
ma'am?" 

Behind  Sally,  Mrs.  Crimmins  gyrated  frantic- 
ally; wildly  nodding  and  tugging  Pippin's  arm. 

"  You  guarantee  it,"  Sally  went  on,  "  and  it 's 
awright;  I  takes  him  back  to  the  country." 

"  Yes,"  Leonora  said,  grasping  what  the  care- 
taker signaled.  "  I  will  promise  to  pay  the  money 
—  if  Pippin  does  n't.  Of  course  you  understand 
she  's  not  able  to  pay  you  just  now,  but  soon  — 
I  'm  sure  — " 


150  PIPPIN 

"Awright,"  Sally  said  cheerfully.  "You're  a 
lady!  "  Her  glance  round  apparently  met  with  dis- 
appointment of  finding  any  others. 

"  The  boy 's  better  off  in  the  country,"  she  said 
shortly.  "  If  I  'm  not  imposed  on,  /  'm  willing 
enough  to  take  'im  back !  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  Pippin.  I  fair  loves  the  country," 
Hal  piped,  swinging  Sally's  hand. 

"  'E  's  lookin'  simply  grand  too,"  Mrs.  Crimmins 
observed  hurriedly. 

"  I  'd  never  thort  it,"  Pippin  joyously  agreed ; 
"  ain't  'e  dossy  in  'is  new  togs  an'  my  eye  what 
'e  's  gained  in  weight  too !  " 

He  caught  her  round  the  neck  as  she  took  him 
up  and  after  a  long  embrace  scrambled  down  and 
went  back  to  Sally. 

"  I  said  Pippin  'd  mike  it  right,  an'  I  should  be 
goin'  back,"  he  bragged.  "  Now  we  've  to  get  the 
marchpane  for  Bertie  an'  Arthur." 

"  Come  downstairs,  Sally,"  invited  Mrs.  Crim- 
mins ;  "  you  '11  'ave  tea  an'  I  've  got  su'think  for 
you,  too." 

"  Hal  could  stop  'ere  with  his  sister,  till  Aunt 
Sally  is  ready  to  go,"  ventured  Pippin,  "  then 
she  '11  come  up  for  him,  see  ?  " 

Mrs.  Taylor  agreed  with :  "  Mind  your  man- 
ners, Hal,"  and  bustled  out 

Leonora  began  searching  in  her  bag  for  pen- 
nies ;  there  were  n't  many  there  and  she  needed 


PIPPIN  151 

them,  but  she  recklessly  bestowed  two  upon  the 
little  visitor. 

"Oh,  thank  you,  Miss,"  he  chuckled,  "I  jolly 
well  wanted  some  coppers  to  fetch  su'think  I  'd 
promised  the  other  chaps." 

"  Does  Hal  like  Aunt  Sally  ?  "  Leonora  smiled, 
lifting  him  to  her  lap. 

"  Ra-ther,  Miss,  I  like  Aunt  Sally  most  in  the 
world  next  old  Pippin !  " 

"  Let 's  'ave  it  all,"  Pippin  knelt  on  the  floor  be- 
side them.  "  Tell  us  everythink !  " 

"  It 's  the  'ugest  inn  ever,"  he  related,  wide-eyed. 
"  Uncle  Taylor  says  it 's  been  known  to  accommo- 
date six  guests  of  a  night!  It  seats  ten  to  a  cold 
supper,  or  meat  tea  at  eighteen  pence  a  'ead,  beer 
extra.  The  stable  's  got  four  'orses  and  two  carts 
to  let  out,  and  there  's  a  garden  wiv  things  growing 
in  it!" 

He  smiled,  showing  two  teeth  missing.  "  Un- 
cle Taylor  s'ys  as  'ow  I  'm  a  'andy  little  kipper  and 
can  stop  long  as  I  like!  Aunt  Sally  'ushes  'im 
up,  but  he  only  larf  s  at  'er ! "  Hal  looked  into  the 
young  lady's  face  and  chuckled  mirthfully.  His 
eyes  were  slyly  mischievous. 

"  I  shall  tell  you  su'think ! "  He  announced. 
"  I  Ve  got  three  an'  sixpence  put  by  in  a  bank  on  the 
shelf  in  the  kitchen  at  the  inn!" 

"  Lovely !  "  Pippin  cried,  beaming. 

"  Sh !  "  warned  the  boy,  eying  the  door.     "  Tell- 


152  PIPPIN 

ing  is  not  mindin'  me  manners !  That 's  what 
Aunt  Sally  meant — " 

Pippin  and  Miss  Lawrence  exchanged  glances. 

"  'Ow  'd  you  get  the  money  ?  "  Pippin  asked,  a 
little  anxiously. 

"  Tips,"  he  said.  "  Everybody  tips  me,  comes 
to  the  inn.  I  blacks  boots.  I  'old  a  'orse  outside 
for  a  gentleman,  or  I  tikes  out  a  mug  of  ale.  I  've 
enough  to  keep  me  goin',  I  promise  yer!  I  gets 
more  tips  'n  the  other  chaps.  I  mean  to  buy  Pip- 
pin a  frock  some  d'y !  " 

Pippin  pressed  her  face  against  the  little  legs. 
He  squealed  and  banged  her  head  and  kicked  her 
playfully  with  his  stout  new  boots. 

"Ho,"  he  laughed;  "some  d'y  I'll  be  a  inn- 
keeper an'  then  — !  " 

He  broke  off  and  looked  at  Leonora. 

"Who's  'er,  Pippin?"  he  asked. 

"The  lady  is  Miss  Lawrence,  duckie,"  Pippin 
said. 

"Does  she  know  Dad?" 

Pippin  got  up  uneasily. 

"  Now  you  've  been  told  about  arskin'  questions, 
old  chap,"  she  said. 

"  I  only  'oped  Miss  Lawrence  did  n't  know  'im, 
is  all,"  he  told  her  quickly.  He  had  looked  round 
the  room  and  discovering  the  pictures  over  the 
mantelshelf,  pointed  them  out  to  Leonora. 

"  'E  spent  'alf  'is  time  carryin'  them  round  to 


PIPPIN  153 

Solomon's,  Pippin  always  'aving  to  sive  up  an' 
fetch  'em  out.  One  d'y  we  run  off  — " 

The  rustle  of  Sally  Taylor's  skirts  was  heard  in 
the  hall. 

"  We  've  some  shoppin'  to  do  an'  to  get  back  to 
the  inn  by  'alf  after  six,"  stated  Hal,  slipping  to 
the  floor.  He  chuckled  again  and  whispered,  "  I 
promised  Uncle  Taylor  I  'd  come  back.  Uncle 
Taylor  larfed  and  said,  '  Rather !  'E  'd  wager 
it!'" 

Sally  entered,  looking  brighter. 

"  'E  's  enjoyed  visitin'  'is  sister  an'  the  lady,  I 
know,"  she  said.  "  You  '11  excuse  me,  Miss,"  she 
addressed  Leonora  exclusively,  "  but  Mother  's  got 
a  silly  streak,  and  I  have  to  curb  it  constantly,  no 
disrespect  to  her !  " 

The  visitor's  haste  spared  Leonora  the  embar- 
rassment of  reply.  She  followed  to  the  door  and 
shook  hands  with  Mrs.  Taylor  who,  giving  assur- 
ance of  the  boy's  welfare,  led  him  away.  His  sis- 
ter went  to  escort  them  out  of  the  Court. 

When  Pippin  came  back,  Miss  Lawrence  was 
preparing  to  go  out. 

"  I  'm  sure  Mrs.  Taylor  will  be  patient,  Pip- 
pin !  "  she  said.  "  We  need  not  worry  about  that." 

"  Thank  you,  Miss,"  Pippin  said. 

"  And  Hal  is  a  little  man !  " 

"  Thank  you,  Miss !  "  glowingly. 

"  And  now  I  'm  going  out,  Pippin." 


154  PIPPIN 

"  Yes,  Miss." 

Leonora  looked  round. 

Pippin's  manner  was  shy,  shamed.  Her  face 
pale,  full  of  remorse.  She  was  eager  with  grati- 
tude, but  inarticulate,  mute. 

"  I  '11  be  back  for  tea ! "  Leonora  said  at  the 
door. 

"  Thank  Gawd,  Miss,"  said  Pippin,  her  prayer 
more  widely  meant  than  seemed. 


CHAPTER  XI 

HE  little  bride  who  was  starting  life 
so  luxuriously  with  two  whole  rooms 
and  an  extravagant  disregard  of  the 
usefulness  of  excelsior,  had  taken  a 
fancy  to  Pippin  and  Pippin  liked  the 
little  bride. 

Their  brief  greetings  as  they  met  on  the  land- 
ing had  been  gradually  prolonged  to  more  neigh- 
borly chats.  And  Pippin  had  tipped  the  little  lady 
off  about  the  excelsior. 

"  Save  your  excelsior,  me  dear,"  she  urged. 
"  The  next  bit  that  comes  wrapped  round  a  stick 
o*  new  furniture  you  keep  to  stuff  a  pillow,  see  ?  " 
"  There  'II  be  no  more  new  sticks,"  the  young 
wife  answered ;  "  not  for  a  good  while.  We  're 
putting  by  now,  y'  know." 

She  looked  very  happy  as  she  told  Pippin.  She 
was  much  absorbed  in  herself  and  her  husband  and 
her  pretty  rooms. 

"  I  want  you  to  come  in  and  see  me,"  she  said. 
"  Come  in  any  afternoon  for  tea." 

"  Some  d'y,"  Pippin  accepted  politely,  "  I  'd  be 
pleased  to  call." 

155 


156  PIPPIN 

Now  that  she  some  day  too  might  be  a  young 
married  lady,  the  happy  domesticity  of  others  was 
beginning  to  interest  her.  She  had  told  Leonora 
of  their  neighbor.  And  in  spare  moments  Pippin 
was  doing  a  little  fine  sewing,  just  out  of  friendli- 
ness. She  loved  it.  It  soothed  after  a  weary, 
vain  search  for  work. 

She  had  not  heard  from  Dandy  since  he  prom- 
ised to  find  her  something  —  only  a  few  days  be- 
fore, truly,  but  the  time  seemed  long.  She  had 
tried  everything!  Sight  of  her  started,  it  seemed, 
each  possibly  prospective  employer,  in  no  matter 
what  line,  clamoring  for  her  character.  All  this,  it 
was,  that  had  caused  her  downfall  and  betrayed  her 
to  Miss  Lawrence.  Memory  of  that  day  could  not 
be  effaced.  She  counted  up  the  days  she  had  spent 
in  search  for  work.  They  were  twelve,  and  she 
had  earned  nothing,  except  indeed  the  half-crown 
dropped  to  her  ready  little  palm,  by  a  mighty  dow- 
ager from  her  fashionable  equipage,  for  Pippin's 
timely  rescue  from  the  curb,  of  a  long  white  glove. 
She  yearned  for  patience  and  new  courage.  She 
prayed  for  good  fortune  to  befall  Miss  Lawrence. 
Her  lady's  troubled  face  disturbed  Pippin.  She  set 
out  each  day,  now,  but  languidly,  much  less  hope- 
fully. 

Teddy  chirped  in  his  patch  of  sunshine  and  play- 
fully showered  his  seeds  on  Pippin's  work. 

"Like    the    lady    flutist,    yer    are!"    she    said; 


PIPPIN  157 

"  haunting  folks  with  what  you  Ve  got,  an'  they  've 
not." 

The  accustomed  step  of  Miss  Lawrence  was 
heard  in  the  hall  and  Pippin  sprang  up. 

"  Miss ! "  she  cried  as  the  door  opened. 

Her  gaze  was  unknowingly  expectant. 

Leonora  came  in.  There  was  a  flush  on  her  pale 
cheeks.  She  leaned  against  the  door  as  she  closed 
it. 

"  You  expect  good  news,"  she  said,  a  little  quiver 
in  her  voice. 

"  Oh,  not  that,  Miss ! "  Pippin  said  quickly ; 
"  why  should  I  ?  or  — "  she  added,  uncertain  of 
the  most  tactful  way  to  put  it, — "  or  again,  why 
shouldn't  you  'ave?" 

"I  ought  to  have  good  news,"  Leonora  said. 
"  An  offer  was  just  made  me  at  Hart  and  Logan's 
dramatic  agency.  But  —  I  couldn't  bring  myself 
to  wear  tights.  I  refused !  " 

Pippin  gaped,  her  mouth  opened  in  wonder. 

"  The  offer  was  to  go  en  tour  with  '  The 
Traveling  Tinies  Extravaganza  Company.'  The 
salary  was  to  have  been  four  pounds  a  week." 
Leonora  stated  it  all  succinctly. 

She  had  never  seemed  so  weary  and  without 
hope. 

"  You  s'y  you  give  up  a  chanct  at  four  quid  a 
week,  Miss?"  Pippin  prayed  to  be  told  again. 

"You  see,"  Leonora  said  patiently,  "you  wear 


158  PIPPIN 

tights    in    such    plays;    not    dresses,    tights!     I 
mean  — " 

"  I  knows,  Miss,"  Pippin  said. 

She  had  seen  extravaganzas,  from  sixpenny 
seats  in  the  gallery,  with  Doll. 

"  I  knows  tights.  They  's  pink  things  fittin'  like 
a  glove  and  nothink  else."  Her  eyes  glowed. 

She  seemed  to  think  the  costume  all  right. 

"  I  could  n't  do  it,  Pippin.  That  is  not  the  kind 
of  actress  I  am." 

Miss  Lawrence  went  to  the  chair  near  the  win- 
dow and  sat  down,  weakly.  Pippin  betrayed  her 
amazement  and  disapproval  of  the  enormous  sum 
of  money  having  been  allowed  to  escape.  The  ne- 
cessity for  action  set  her  to  dusting  again.  She 
finally  drew  up  beside  Leonora. 

"  Four  quid,  I  will  s'y,  do  seem  a  lot  o'  money, 
Miss,  but  no  doubt  you  feels  su'think  about  the 
extravacancie  as  I  do  about  charin'.  You  'd 
rather  be  dead;  though  I  must  s'y  I  can't  get  any 
charin'  to  do  with  all  I  've  tried !  " 

"  Perhaps  I  'm  foolish,"  Miss  Lawrence  ad- 
mitted. 

Her  pretty  face  looked  strained  and  desperate. 

"  But,"  reconsidered  Pippin,  forgetting  the 
money,  "you  can't  go  'opping  about  without  a 
frock  on,  like  a  common  person — "  she  gazed  at 
Miss  Lawrence  thoughtfully.  "  There,  you  've  a 
letter  in  your  'and,  too,  you  've  not  even  opened." 


PIPPIN  159 

The  letter  was  Charlie  Browne's.  Leonora  had 
got  it  from  the  theater  but  her  mind  would  trail 
back  to  the  offer  she  had  refused.  Every  step  of 
the  return  to  Jubilee  Court  had  tortured  her.  She 
was  no  doubt  flying  in  the  face  of  Fate.  Here 
was  another  experience  offered,  perhaps  to  in- 
crease her  knowledge  of  life  and  enlarge  her 
sphere  for  acting,  besides  food  and  the  release  of 
her  clothes  from  Bloomsbury  Square.  She  could 
help  Pippin,  too.  The  girl  was  entitled  to  her  con- 
sideration. Leonora  would  have  been  Captain  of 
the  Band  in  the  Extravaganza.  They  wanted  a 
blonde  Captain.  She  had  admitted  she  danced  a 
little.  They  said  her  looks  "  would  do !  " 

After  all  if  she  was  born  to  start  her  career  on 
her  looks  — 

"  Read  your  letter,  Miss !  "  The  voice  of  Pip- 
pin came  from  the  other  end  of  the  room. 

She  was  sewing  again.  Her  features  were  as 
gentle  as  a  summer  sea.  Leonora  felt  suddenly 
comforted.  The  girl  had  understood.  After  all 
the  next  few  days  must  bring  some  kind  of  part. 
Anything  only  not  tights ! 

She  opened  Charlie  Browne's  letter.  She  read 
a  few  lines  and  called  out  sharply : 

"Oh!  Oh,  merciful  goodness,  what  shall  I 
do?" 

In  two  bounds  Pippin  was  at  her  side. 

"  What  is  'urting  you,  Miss  ?     Is  it  your  'ead  ?  " 


160  PIPPIN 

Miss  Lawrence  was  holding  her  head  with  both 
hands.  Pippin  hurried  to  remove  the  pink  hat. 

"  Oh,"  Leonora  cried  again. 

She  looked  up  wildly.  She  caught  the  letter  and 
poured  over  it. 

"  Saturday,  when  is  Saturday  ?  " 

"  This  is  a  Thursday,"  Pippin  said.  "  To-mor- 
row 's  Friday  an'  the  next  is  Saturday.  I  s'y, 
Miss,  is  he  coming  —  Mr.  Browne  ?  " 

"  No,"  Miss  Lawrence  said.  "  Some  people 
from  Goshen,  Indiana,  will  be  in  London  Saturday. 
I  can't  see  them !  " 

"  What  ?  "  exclaimed  Pippin. 

"  I  can't  see  them !  "  repeated  Leonora.  "  It 's 
impossible !  I  can't  see  them  — " 

She  looked  at  the  letter  again. 

"  But  they  are  in  London  now,  it  seems.  Yes, 
they  must  be.  They  were  due  yesterday,  Wednes- 
day !  I  am  to  see  them  at  the  Savoy  Hotel  — "  she 
dropped  the  letter  and  looked  hopelessly  at  Pippin. 

"At  the  Savoy?  "  repeated  Pippin. 

"  Yes.  They  are  to  send  me  another  note  and 
say  what  time,  but  they  got  Mr.  Browne  to  say  in 
his  letter  they  positively  will  expect  me  to  meet 
them  at  the  Savoy,  Saturday  afternoon.  They  are 
going  on  to  Paris  that  night." 

Pippin  stood  blinking  and  thinking. 

"  I  can't  go !  "  moaned  Miss  Lawrence.  "  Why, 
the  Clarks  are  the  very  best  people  in  Goshen." 


PIPPIN  161 

"  But,  Miss,"  Pippin  said  musingly,  "  you  Ve 
simply  got  to.  Would  you  'ave  these  toffs  askin' 
of  each  other,  'What's  Miss  Lawrence  'iding 
for?'" 

She  gave  an  imitation  of  a  toff's  manner  of 
speech. 

"  Toffs,  Miss,  always  'as  their  suspicions !  " 

"  What  are  toffs  ?  "  Leonora  asked  impatiently. 

"  Swells !  "  explained  Pippin.  "  Dossy  folks. 
Them  with  sharp  eyes  as  s'ys  to  a  pore  honest  gal, 
'  Where  's  your  character,  gal  ?  Can  you  expect  a 
situation  without  a  character ! ' 

"  The  Clarks  are  n't  that  kind,  Pippin,"  Leonora 
said. 

"  But  you  are  right,"  she  admitted  a  moment 
later.  "  They  would  wonder  why  I  did  not  see 
them.  It  would  get  all  round  Goshen,  too,  and 
Mr.  Browne  would  wonder  —  I  could  cry !  " 

She  rose,  pacing  the  floor,  holding  her  head. 

In  her  turn  Pippin  spoke  up  sharply. 

"  That 's  no  good,  Miss ;  only  fags  you  out. 
Just  lie  down  for  a  bit  —  then  see !  " 

More  meekly,  Leonora  stopped  beside  the  bed. 

"  I  don't  see  how  I  can  go  in  that  old  rag,"  she 
fretted,  as  Pippin  hung  her  pink  dress  over  the  back 
of  the  chair. 

"  Now,  just  you  lie  down,"  Pippin  urged ; 
"  things  will  look  different  when  you  've  rested,  I 
know!" 


162  PIPPIN 

"  I  don't  wish  to  lie  down  and  I  can't  rest,"  re- 
belled Leonora. 

But  when  Pippin  drew  the  shade  and  the  ca- 
nary's piping  was  hushed,  she  did  lie  down.  Pip- 
pin sat  down  again,  but  she  did  not  sew.  The 
work  lay  in  her  lap. 

Her  eyes  were  narrowed,  her  brow  drawn 
darkly.  Something  that  had  been  crowded  to  the 
background  of  her  mind  came  vividly  before  her 
now  —  the  clothes  left  at  Mrs.  Penley's  in  Blooms- 
bury  Square!  Presently  Miss  Lawrence,  if  not 
asleep,  was  at  least  unaware  of  Pippin's  move- 
ments. Glancing  at  the  bed,  she  got  up  noise- 
lessly and  went  to  the  chest.  Among  the  posses- 
sions in  the  top  drawer,  were  three  small  keys  on 
a  ring.  She  slipped  them  into  her  pocket  and 
closed  the  drawer,  put  on  her  hat  and  quietly  left 
the  room. 

She  walked  slowly  along  the  crowded  streets, 
her  mind  working  busily.  Somehow  she  must  get 
Miss  Lawrence  her  clothes.  One  scheme  after  an- 
other came  to  her  only  to  be  rejected.  Then  an 
idea  alluringly  simple;  the  more  she  thought  of  it 
the  greater  her  approval.  There  would  be  some 
risk.  Yes,  but  not  so  much  and  she  determined  to 
take  it,  hoping,  too,  that  Fate  might  favor  her  in 
this  plan.  She  loitered  along  and  it  was  nearly 
dark,  when  she  finally  reached  Bloomsbury  Square. 
Darkness  was  a  part  of  the  plan. 


PIPPIN  163 

Mrs.  Penley's  lodging-house  was  alight.  Fig- 
ures appeared  against  the  window  blinds. 

The  ground-floor  window  was  open  to  view  and 
within  Pippin  saw  two  ladies  dressed  to  go  out,  no 
doubt  the  Americans  to  whom  she  had  listened 
upon  her  previous  visit  here.  The  street  door 
opened,  a  white-capped  housemaid  came  out  with 
metal  whistle  and  blew  for  a  four-wheeler.  A  cab 
quickly  clattered  up  and  the  two  ladies  came  out. 
The  driver  was  directed  to  the  Duke  of  York's 
theater. 

"  We  're  late  all  right,"  one  of  them  said.  "  It 
took  you  so  long  to  make  up  your  mind  where  we  'd 
go,  Elizabeth ! " 

Pippin  smiled.  The  voice  was  so  like  another, 
now  very  sweetly  familiar  one.  The  women  were 
driven  away.  The  housemaid  went  in  and  closed 
the  door.  She  at  once  appeared  in  the  ground- 
floor  room,  looked  about,  ate  something  from  a 
box  on  the  table  and  finally  turned  out  the 
light.  Then  she  went  out  and  closed  the  door. 
Pippin  looked  over  the  railing  into  the  area.  The 
door  there  was  closed.  She  went  back  into  the 
shadow.  The  street-door  opened  again  and  a  man 
came  out,  smoking.  He  went  away  out  of  the 
street.  Others  emerged  from  the  house,  walking 
along  in  the  soft  evening  to  pick  up  a  cab  at  leisure. 
At  last  the  house  seemed  quiet.  Lights  were  low- 
ered. 


164  PIPPIN 

Pippin  again  looked  down  into  the  area.  The 
housemaid's  cap  was  reflected  on  the  curtain.  She 
was  moving  round  the  kitchen.  Presently  she  sat 
down,  and  from  her  shadow  Pippin  saw  she  was 
eating  her  supper.  Pippin  descended  the  steps  and 
knocked  upon  the  basement  door.  It  was  finally 
opened  cautiously. 

"  Good  evening,"  Pippin  greeted  brightly,  but 
not  too  loud.  "  Is  Mrs.  Penley  at  'ome  ?  " 

The  housemaid  looked  hard  at  the  visitor. 

"  She  is."  The  reply  was  somewhat  aggres- 
sive. "  But  she  's  lying  down.  She  always  does 
after  her  after-dinner  cup  o'  coffee." 

"  Pity,"  the  caller  said ;  "  I  might  'ave  come  in 
the  morning,  but  now  I  'm  'ere  — " 

"  It  'd  be  better  to  come  in  the  morning,"  said 
the  housemaid. 

She  had  been  up  the  stairs  to  the  rooms  above  a 
great  number  of  times  that  day,  could  Pippin  but 
have  known. 

"  I  wonder,"  Pippin  went  on  thoughtfully,  "  if 
you  remember  a  young  lady  used  to  lodge  'ere  — 
Miss  Lawrence  'er  name  was." 

The  housemaid's  face  lighted  up. 

"  'Ow  well  does  I  remember  'er  —  why  this  very 
comb  I  've  got  in  my  hair  — "  she  turned  her  head 
to  display  it  — "  she  gave  to  me  the  day  she  went." 

"Indeed,"  marveled  the  visitor;  "it  suits  you 
too." 


PIPPIN  165 

"What  about  Miss  Lawrence?"  the  housemaid 
asked. 

"  Why,"  said  Pippin,  "  she  left  'er  box  an'  things 
'ere." 

The  housemaid  winked  and  looked  back  at  the 
door,  behind  her.  Pippin  breathed  quickly  with 
satisfaction.  The  box  must  still  be  there. 

"  I  came  on  an  errand.  But,  you  s'y  Mrs.  Pen- 
ley  is  lying  down  — "  she  hesitated. 

"  I  '11  go  an'  tell  the  missus  at  once,"  said  the 
maid.  "  No  doubt  she  '11  'ave  you  upstairs  imme- 
jately.  Come  in !  " 

"'Ave  you  to  go  up  many  flights?"  inquired 
Pippin  solicitously,  stepping  in. 

"Only  two.     You  stop  'ere." 

"  Take  your  time  about  it."  Pippin  closely  fol- 
lowed the  girl  to  the  stairway.  "  Don't  kill  your- 
self over  the  steps.  I  fair  'ate  stairs  meself.  I  '11 
stop  'ere."  She  dropped  to  the  lowest  step,  yawn- 
ing. 

The  maid  departed  upward. 

Pippin  drew  the  keys  from  her  pocket  and  partly 
closed  the  door  leading  from  the  kitchen;  behind 
it  here  in  the  entry-way,  had  stood  the  precious 
trunk.  The  place  was  dark  but  a  glimmer  of  light 
came  through  the  crack  of  the  partly  closed  door. 
She  peered  through  the  darkness  and  groped  about. 
A  larger  trunk  was  there  —  yes,  and  the  one  she 
sought  had  been  lifted  upon  it.  She  felt  for  the 


i66  PIPPIN 

lock.  The  second  key  she  tried  fitted  and  unlocked 
the  trunk,  yet  some  straps  still  held  it.  Her  hands 
were  bungling  and  unsteady,  but  at  last  she  had  un- 
buckled the  straps,  and  raised  the  top.  Her  fin- 
gers fumbled  eagerly  over  the  contents.  Only  the 
lightest  things  seemed  to  be  there.  She  gathered 
a  handful  and  stuffed  into  her  spacious  pocket.  A 
hat  in  the  corner  partition  came  under  her  fingers. 
She  dropped  it  out  upon  the  floor.  She  found  a 
shoe,  then  another;  a  fan  and  a  photograph  which 
she  clutched  eagerly.  Her  pocket  could  accommo- 
date them.  Pippin's  pockets  had  not  been  re- 
formed yet.  She  had  never  thought  of  this.  It 
came  to  her  now,  as  well  as  the  astonishing  clumsi- 
ness of  her  hands.  She  grasped  the  side  of  the  top 
tray,  it  lifted  easily.  Steps  sounded.  The  girl 
was  coming  down  the  stairs,  briskly.  Flight? 
Not  yet.  She  would  take  a  chance.  She  opened 
the  door  that  led  to  the  kitchen,  and  hid  behind  it. 

The  housemaid  descended,  stopped  at  the  foot 
of  the  stairs. 

"  You  're  to  go  right  up,"  she  said,  hurrying  into 
the  kitchen.  "  Lor'  bless  us !  "  she  exclaimed. 

She  paused,  went  to  the  outside  door,  stepped 
into  the  area.  Then  she  came  back.  Pippin  heard 
her  walking  all  round  the  kitchen. 

"  I  was  n't  gone  a  minute,"  she  was  saying. 
"  She  could  'a'  waited.  Very  queer  — " 

She  came  back  and  began  slowly  mounting  the 


PIPPIN  167 

stairs.  Pippin  turned  swiftly  to  the  trunk.  She 
pulled  at  the  tray  and  from  beneath  it  dragged 
some  garments,  dropped  them  out,  replaced  the 
tray,  let  down  the  lid  and  had  secured  the  keys  be- 
fore the  housemaid  was  heard  returning  with  her 
mistress.  Pippin  grasped  the  hat  and  clothes  from 
the  floor,  wadded  them  under  her  arm,  curved  into 
the  kitchen  and  scuttled  across  to  the  door.  She 
was  too  burdened  to  close  it.  Half-way  up  the 
steps  she  stumbled  over  a  dragging  garment,  clung 
to  her  load  and  her  chin  collided  with  the  pave- 
ment, cruelly.  Undaunted  she  rose,  something  fell 
from  her  bulging  pocket  and  rolled  back  into  the 
areaway,  a  shoe  she  realized  regretfully.  But  ex- 
cited voices  were  below  her  then. 

"  Phoebe ! "  It  must  have  been  Mrs.  Penley 
speaking,  "  Phcebe,  here  's  somebody  just  gone  out 
of  my  kitchen  making  off  up  the  street.  Why 
here  's  a  shoe  fell  down." 

Pippin  ran,  swiftly,  silently. 

"Stop  thief!"  The  faint  cry  of  Phcebe  the 
housemaid  was  wafted  upon  the  air. 

The  night  was  calm,  there  was  nobody  about, 
certainly  not  an  officer.  There  was  no  need  for 
prolonged  speed.  There  was  need  to  take  stock  of 
her  spoil  and  to  gather  it  up  more  safely.  A  little 
alley,  a  dark  doorway  was  at  hand.  Pippin 
slipped  in.  When  she  emerged  her  appearance 
was  greatly  changed.  The  skirts  she  had  put  on 


168  PIPPIN 

would  have  trailed  but  she  gathered  them  up.  Her 
hat  was  a  cornflower  blue  entwined  in  a  mesh  of 
tulle.  The  brim  flopped.  Her  own  fur  cap  was 
under  her  arm.  Strange  enlargements  bulged 
over  parts  of  her  person.  Out  of  consideration  for 
the  clothing  she  took  her  way  back  slowly.  Her 
appearance  did  not  pass  unnoticed  and  in  Shafts- 
bury  Avenue  she  encountered  three  rowdy  girls. 
They  broke  apart  shrieking  with  one  accord  and 
leaped  into  a  devilish  dance  that  wedged  her  in  and 
impeded  her  progress. 

"  Misfits !  "  shrilled  one  lady,  holding  up  her  own 
skirts  as  she  hopped  about. 

"  'And  me  downs,"  echoed  her  comrade  whose 
bun  was  shaken  loose. 

"  G'  on !  "  branched  out  the  third.  "  Don't  yer 
know  a  loidy  when  you  sees  one  ?  And  did  n't  yer 
know  about  the  ball  at  the  Palace  to-noit  ?  " 

"  King  Edward  's  not  in  Lunnon!  "  objected  the 
other;  "  'owever,  she  's  no  doubt  going  to  a  private 
affair  in  Park  Lane,  what?" 

They  felt  of  the  stuff  in  her  skirt.  She  kicked 
at  one  of  them.  They  laughed  joyously.  But  a 
fair,  pretty  young  girl  with  a  basket  on  her  arm 
empty  of  all  but  a  few  dried  flowers,  came  along 
and  stopped.  Pippin  caught  her  eye  imploringly. 

"  I  s'y,  Liz,"  the  flower  girl  said  to  one  of  the 
tormentors,  "yer  back  'air  is  all  tumbling  down, 
you  do  look  rummy?  What's  the  row?" 


PIPPIN  169 

Liz  put  her  hand  to  her  hair,  turned  to  the  new- 
comer and  in  that  instant  Pippin  skimmed  along 
the  curb  and  was  gone.  Laughter  and  hoots  of 
derision  followed  her  but  she  was  lost  to  them. 

Much  later,  worn  and  weary,  she  neared  Jubilee 
Court.  The  houses  of  the  private  square  it  led 
into  were  many  of  them  closed  and  along  here  she 
could  take  off  the  extra  clothes,  roll  them  up  and 
so  slip  them  into  her  room.  Miss  Lawrence  was 
not  to  know  of  her  windfall  until  the  moment  ar- 
rived to  prepare  for  the  occasion. 

Pippin  was  proud  of  her  achievement.  She  had 
been  daring,  she  had  been  lucky.  The  lady  in 
whom  she  centered  her  hopes  and  ambitions,  who 
had  done  so  much  for  her,  should  not  go  forth  in 
shabby  attire  for  the  swells  of  Goshen,  Indiana,  to 
behold.  The  square  was  very  quiet.  The  shadow 
of  a  tree  gave  friendly  shelter.  She  paused  and 
looked  all  round,  then  slipped  off  the  outer  gar- 
ments, folded  them  neatly  and  exchanged  the  blue 
cornflower  hat  for  her  cap.  She  sighed.  She  was 
very  tired  and  hungry.  Her  head  felt  suddenly 
dull.  With  the  things  tucked  under  her  arm,  she 
was  ready.  But  from  the  dark  doorway  of  a 
closed  house  across  the  road  a  figure  had  moved. 
It  was  crossing  over  to  her  and  suddenly  came 
into  the  ray  of  light  from  the  street  lamp.  It  was 
Doll. 

"If  an  officer  saw  what  I  just  'ave  seen,  the 


170  PIPPIN 

magistrate  would  n't  let  you  off  with  a  caution, 
Pip,  old  gal!  "  she  laughed. 

"  Doll !  "  gasped  Pippin. 

"  The  sime.     'Ow  's  your  ladyship?  " 

"  Been  on  a  errand,"  Pippin  answered,  draw- 
ing back  as  Doll  came  close,  peering  at  the  bun- 
dle. 

Doll  laughed!  The  square  rang  with  her  yells 
of  mirth  and  echoed  into  the  quiet  court.  Pippin 
scowled  at  her. 

"  Don't  be  a  fool,  a  bally  'owling  barmy  idiot, 
Doll!  That's  all  I  asks." 

Doll  sobered  a  little. 

"  I  must  n't  mike  a  row,  's'truth,"  she  said. 
"  My  'Arry  's  about  'ere,  gettin'  the  lay  of  the  land. 
'E  and  a  pal 's  got  their  eyes  on  a  certain  'ouse 
where  a  top  window  's  been  left  unbearded." 

She  chuckled  and  nudged  Pippin.  "  I  s'y,  why 
don't  you  drop  in  any  more  ?  Kitty  's  not  well  and 
asks  for  yer.  I  'd  a  bad  'eart  flutter  once  or  twice 
lately.  'Arry  near  called  round  for  you  too !  " 

Pippin  shuddered  at  the  thought  of  Harry.  It 
was  not  easy  now  that  the  time  had  come,  to  tell 
Doll. 

"  It 's  'ere,"  she  finally  said  uneasily.  "  I  've 
dropped  all  that." 

"  Wotcher  mean  ?  "     Doll  was  dull. 

"  I  've  turned  honest,"  Pippin  said.  "  I  'm  go- 
ing straight ! " 


PIPPIN  171 

Doll  laughed  louder  than  ever. 

"  I  'd  like  to  knock  off  your  silly,  noisy  old  nut !  " 
Pippin  growled.  "  What  is  there  to  larf  at  ?  " 

"Wait  till  I  tells  it  to  Kitty,"  jibed  Doll. 
"'Old  Pip  — little  old  Pip/  Kitty  will  s'y.  *  The 
cleverest  young  pickpocket  about  the  West  End, 
not  pinched,  no,  no ;  but  —  turned  str'ight ! ' 

Doll's  laughter  could  not  be  hushed.  It  turned 
Pippin  cold  and  dizzy.  Possibly  her  words  had 
echoed  into  the  Court,  up  to  the  very  room. 

"  Doll,  old  gal,"  she  said,  "  'ush  and  I  '11  come 
round  to  see  you  an'  explain.  There  's  a  dear  now, 
do  'ush!" 

"Turned  str'ight,"  Doll  pointed  at  the  bundle 
Pippin  clutched.  "  Well,  when  yer  comin'  ?  "  she 
questioned  hysterically.  "  Soon  ?  Kitty  can't  wait, 
not  she,  after  this  news.  I  'm  like  to  'ave  another 
'eart  fit,  too !  " 

"  Soon,"  promised  Pippin.     "  Good-night !  " 

"  Not  so  fast,"  Doll  waylaid  her.  "  Who  's  your 
lady-pal?" 

"  When  I  come  round  to  call,"  Pippin  said,  "  is 
the  time  for  all  this.  Look  sharp  now  or  I  smashes 
yer  one." 

Doll  gave  way.     Pippin's  violence  was  unusual. 

"  We  '11  look  for  you  soon,"  Doll  said. 

As  Pippin  left  her  she  called  after  her  mirth- 
fully. "  I  see  'ow  it  is.  You  was  turnin'  when 
tikin'  off  those  fine  togs,  'ere  in  the  dark." 


172  PIPPIN 

Strange,  thought  Pippin,  how  hideous  laughter 
could  sound. 

Breathless  and  half  sobbing  she  came  to  the 
house  and  hurried  up  the  stairs.  She  listened  out- 
side the  door.  It  was  quiet.  She  went  in. 

"  Pippin?  "  Leonora  turned  from  the  window. 

"  Miss,  all  in  darkness?  "  She  swept  to  the  cur- 
tains and  dropped  her  bundle  behind  them  upon 
her  bunk.  She  emptied  her  pocket  quickly. 

"  The  candle  is  very  low ;  anyhow,  there 's  a  new 
moon  to-night,"  Miss  Lawrente  said.  "  I  saw  it 
over  my  right  shoulder,  out  over  the  Square." 

"  When,  Miss  ?  "  Pippin  gasped. 

"  Half  an  hour  ago,"  was  the  answer.  "  Have 
you  had  any  good  luck,  Pippin?" 

"  Thank  you,  Miss,  but  nothink  very  certain. 
Now  for  a  bite  to  eat.  I  'ave  been  long  out." 

"Pippin!" 

"Miss?" 

"  I  went  back  about  the  Traveling  Tinies  Ex- 
travaganza offer.  The  chance  was  gone.  Some 
one  else  had  just  taken  it ! " 

"  Thank  'Eaven  for  su'think  then ! "  Pippin  ex- 
claimed. 

"  Why,  Pippin,  four  pounds  — "  but  Miss  Law- 
rence's voice  was  less  troubled. 

"  Four  pounds  is  not  so  much,  Miss ! "  Pippin 
said  sturdily.  "  I  'm  parched  for  me  tea!  " 


CHAPTER  XII 

HERE  had  been  rain  all  night,  and 
the  rumble  of  thunder.  Pippin  was 
awakened  by  it  and  sat  up  to  peer 
out  of  her  own  private  chamber. 
Miss  Lawrence  stood  at  the  window, 
with  arms  outstretched,  palms  upturned  to  the  rain. 
"If  it  still  rains  to-morrow,"  she  answered  at 
Pippin's  call,  "  I  can't  go  to  the  Savoy.  Still,  that 
is  n't  any  comfort.  When  it  rains  people  go  in 
cabs  and  keep  their  engagements.  Cabs  cost — " 

"  'S'truth! "  Pippin  answered,  and  then  the  thud 
of  her  discouraged  little  body  falling  backward  in 
her  excelsior  bed. 

Pippin  opened  her  eyes  after  this  awful  realiza- 
tion and  strained  them  owlishly  in  the  darkness. 
Against  the  inside  of  the  curtains  that  partitioned 
her  off  was  carefully  pinned  her  recent  plunder. 
She  could  detect  the  outline  of  the  blue  cornflower 
hat  upon  the  curtain.  The  photograph  which  had 
turned  out  to  be  that  of  Leonora  Lawrence  in  cos- 
tume, was  under  her  pillow.  After  all  her  effort, 
was  she  to  be  denied  the  satisfaction  of  sending 
Miss  Lawrence  forth  to  meet  this  social  obligation? 

173 


174  PIPPIN 

But  cab-fare  from  Jubilee  Court  to  the  Hotel 
Savoy ! 

"Did  you  groan,  Pippin?"  inquired  Miss  Law- 
rence. "  You  must  not  take  my  afflictions  too 
much  to  heart.  If  it  comes  to  the  worst,  you  may 
wear  my  hat  to  the  Savoy  to  tell  the  Clarks  I  never 
go  out  in  London  when  it  rains." 

This  feeble  jest  greatly  diverted  Pippin  and  soon 
after  requesting  Miss  Lawrence  to  return  to  bed 
before  she  got  her  death,  quiet  settled  upon  the 
room. 

And  after  all  the  morning  broke  auspiciously. 
The  ray  of  sunlight  slanted  over  Teddy's  cage  and 
the  pink  rose  of  the  wall-paper.  The  little  court 
had  been  rain-washed  and  was  fresh  as  a  daisy. 
Leonora  dressed  as  usual  in  her  pink  frock  to  go 
forth  on  her  daily  quest.  She  had  become  quite 
reconciled  to  visiting  the  dramatic  agencies  now. 
She  even  conversed  with  some  she  met  there,  as 
Pippin  did  with  the  young  bride  below  stairs.  She 
was  glad  of  the  exchange  of  hopeful  words.  She 
had  got  encouragement  there  too.  One  little 
woman  had  said  savagely: 

"  Don't  be  an  underdog !  I  've  got  a  baby  and 
Freddie  does  n't  have  awfully  good  luck  lately,  so 
I  take  just  anything.  I  can't  wait  around  but  if  I 
were  starting  out  again,  young — " 

She  had  opened  her  arms  and  thrown  back  her 
head  with  a  little  cry.  Her  bosom  quivered,  her 


PIPPIN  175 

lowered  lashes  hid  the  glance  she  threw  Freddy 
—  it  was  Freddy  who  sat  near,  among  the  other 
men;  Freddy,  a  comedy  man,  fat,  merry,  pink  and 
untroubled. 

"  Ah,"  sighed  Freddy's  wife,  "  don't  you  be  a 
fool,  child.  You  are  made  for  leads.  You  are 
full  of  temperament.  You  are  young,  beautiful  — 
free,  not  that  I  'd  give  up  my  baby  —  I  say,  have 
you  seen  Toby  Hamilton,  by  any  chance?  " 

Leonora  told  her  of  the  interview  with  the  man- 
ager and  the  little  woman  had  thought  something 
might  come  of  it.  Leonora  was  always  encour- 
aged by  these  talks. 

She  was  pinning  on  her  hat  when  Pippin  spoke 
anxiously. 

"  You  '11  come  back  'ere,  in  course,  Miss,  before 
you  goes  to  the  tea  at  the  Savoy  ? "  she  urged. 
"  You  '11  want  to  doss  up  a  bit !  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  Pippin !  I  must  come  back  to  —  well, 
not  change  my  frock  or  anything  so  fastidious,"  an- 
swered Leonora  bitterly,  as  she  spread  out  her 
arms  and  looked  at  herself  in  the  mirror.  "  I  will 
come  back  though  to  do  my  hair  some  other  way 
and—" 

"  I  '11  give  your  shoes  a  bit  o'  blackin' ! "  added 
Pippin  cheerily.  "  Mrs.  Crimmins  'as  plenty  o' 
that." 

Leonora  had  just  reached  the  door  when  a  heavy 
knock  fell  upon  it.  Two  burly  men  were  there. 


176  PIPPIN 

"  Come  for  the  wardrobe !  "  said  one. 

"  Wardrobe !  "  chorused  Pippin  and  Miss  Law- 
rence. 

"Wardrobe!" 

Miss  Lawrence  and  Pippin  exchanged  glances. 

"  It 's  sold  to  me ! "  one  of  the  men  explained. 
"  I  was  up  'ere  lookin'  it  over  three  weeks  ago  — 
afore  this  room  was  let.  I  offered  the  Missus  — 
well,  a  certain  amount  for  it  which  she  wouldn't 
take.  Now  she  's  glad  to  let  it  go  for  less.  I  've 
paid  'er,  too.  She 's  got  the  money.  I  'm  a  sec- 
and-'and  dealer !  " 

He  pushed  into  the  room  quite  easily  and  looked 
all  the  furniture  over  with  a  covetous  eye.  Then  he 
espied  the  article  he  claimed  to  have  bought  and 
motioned  to  his  companion.  This  man  said : 

"  We  '11  tike  the  things  out  of  it,  first.  The  lady 
will  want  'er  clo' — " 

"  It 's  empty,"  Leonora  murmured. 

"  We  don't  use  it,"  added  Pippin. 

"  That 's  what  I  understood,"  the  second-hand 
dealer  said.  "  'Ave  a  'old,  Tom !  " 

They  shut  it  up  and  carried  it  out.  Leonora 
closed  the  door  upon  them.  It  was  all  done  in  a 
minute. 

"  Funny  thing,"  Pippin  said  musingly.  "  I  quite 
forgot  Mrs.  Crimmins  telling  me  when  I  came  in 
'ere  the  sticks,  being  'er  own,  was  extra  and  'ow 
if  she  got  'ard  pressed,  she  must  sell  'em !  " 


PIPPIN  177 

Miss  Lawrence  looked  at  the  chest  of  drawers 
and  then  the  bed. 

"  Never  fear !  "  cheered  Pippin.  "  She  won't  go 
selling  them.  I  'm  going  down  for  a  word  with 
'er,  too !  I  want  to  see  'er.  Now  we  've  more 
room  to  get  about,  Miss,  what?  without  that  bally 
thing  we  'd  no  use  for !  " 

"  Yes,"  admitted  Miss  Lawrence,  "  there  's  more 
room." 

Sfce  turned  and  was  on  the  point  of  asking  a 
question  but  the  gayest  trills  of  song  coming  un- 
expectedly from  Pippin,  frustrated  her  completely. 
It  was  factitious  lightheartedness,  she  knew,  but  she 
did  not  ask  the  question, —  about  the  rent. 

The  song  hushed  abruptly  as  it  had  begun  and 
left  alone,  Pippin's  face  quickly  changed. 

"  A  perfec'  snake  in  the  grass  Mrs.  Crimmins 
is,"  she  muttered.  "  It  '11  be  the  same  thing  again 
to-morrow,  no  doubt.  Then  with  the  furniture  all 
sold,  we'll  'ave  to  get  out." 

Something  must  be  done.  She  must  have  the 
money  for  the  rent  and  for  little  Hal.  There  came 
remembrance  of  her  successful  coup  of  the  day 
before,  the  getting  of  Miss  Lawrence's  clothes. 

Then  what  was  that  Doll  had  said  — "  the  clev- 
erest little  pickpocket  in  the  West  End  " — "  never 
been  caught !  "  The  pride  she  had  once  felt  in  her 
accomplishment  glowed  insidiously.  This  and  the 
urgent  need  of  money  shut  out  all  else.  In  sudden 


178  PIPPIN 

determination  she  parted  the  curtains  that  parti- 
tioned off  her  private  corner,  unpinned  the  clothes 
and  brought  them  out.  There  was  a  frock  com- 
plete. She  had  found  the  bodice  in  the  tray  and  the 
skirt  in  the  bottom  of  the  trunk.  She  thought 
again  of  her  success.  It  had  been  dark  and  how 
her  fingers  had  trembled. 

"  'S'truth ! "  she  exclaimed  with  a  choky  little 
chuckle. 

She  spread  the  frock  upon  the  bed.  It  was 
white  with  a  faint  blue  flower  in  it.  There  was 
another  garment  which  she  took  for  a  frock  too; 
it  was  blue,  but  very  plain,  except  for  a  lace  frill 
at  the  bottom.  She  placed  it  beside  the  other. 
The  young  lady  could  choose.  There  were  other 
things.  She  fingered  the  lace  and  fine  muslin  lov- 
ingly. There  was  only  one  slipper.  She  laughed 
a  little  as  she  thought  of  the  fate  of  the  other. 

How  the  housemaid  had  yelled,  "  Stop  thief ! " 

And  how  she  had  run!  Her  eyes  widened 
darkly.  The  absolute  success  of  the  thing  thrilled 
her  anew.  She  arranged  the  clothes  on  the  bed, 
where  the  first  glance  would  show  them.  Miss 
Lawrence  would  think —  Perspicaciously  Pippin 
decided  Miss  Lawrence  would  be  too  overwhelmed 
to  think.  She  would  just  doss  out  hurriedly  and 
go.  Afterward —  Pippin  did  not  go  into  the 
matter  further.  She  caught  up  her  fur  cap,  glan- 
cing with  delight  at  the  cornflower  hat  the  bedpost 


PIPPIN  179 

was  wearing  temporarily.  It  seemed  to  have 
caught  the  sly  eye  of  Teddy  too;  he  was  chirping 
madly,  inspired  to  a  song  of  cornflowers.  Pippin 
swaggered  to  the  door. 

If  she  should  meet  Mrs.  Crimmins  on  the 
stairs ! 

"'Old  'ard!"  she  said  to  herself,  waving  her 
fist  "I'll  see  you  get  your  p'y,  Mrs.  Crimmins; 
I  'm  going  for  it  —  now !  " 

She  banged  the  door  and  ran  downstairs.  She 
walked  very  determinedly  and  her  quick,  easy  stride 
presently  brought  her  to  Bond  Street.  Bond  Street 
was  very  pleasant  on  a  nice  morning  and  there 
were  many  shoppers  along  here  to-day.  Pippin 
had  in  mind  a  certain  Parisian  jeweler's  window 
that  usually  drew  a  small  select  crowd  and  she 
sauntered  toward  it.  She  had  not  gone  far  when 
a  vision  in  heliotrope  and  black  lace,  with  a  clash 
of  bangles  and  chatelaine,  a  swish  of  soft  petti- 
coats and  the  plentiful  scent  of  violet  sachet  came 
from  a  side  street.  The  lady  turned  into  Bond 
Street  and  walked  ahead  of  Pippin.  She  followed 
eagerly,  a  little  excitedly.  Her  footfall  was 
lighter,  her  eyes  alert,  watching  for  opportunity. 
They  came  to  the  jeweler's  window.  There  was  a 
crowd  there  and  the  lady  pushed  in  ahead.  Pip- 
pin followed,  on  her  face  a  look  of  fear  mingled 
with  hard  determination. 

Of   a   sudden    she   lurched    forward,   her   out- 


i8o  PIPPIN 

stretched  hands  coming  in  violent  contact  with 
them,  sent  the  lady's  golden  perquisites  clashing, 
scattering  upon  the  pavement  and  Pippin  with 
them.  Quickly  she  half  rose  upon  hands  and 
knees,  one  hand  deftly  covered  the  sovereign  purse, 
all  but  closed  upon  it,  then  shot  back,  clutching  at 
her  throat.  Her  eyes  stared,  fastened  upon  some- 
thing pink,  a  woman's  dress  skirt  it  was  —  her  eyes 
traveled  up,  up  —  No !  Miss  Lawrence,  it  was 
not !  She  cowed  a  moment,  the  terror  passing,  she 
darted  a  fearful  look  at  the  woman  who  stooped 
to  help  her.  Then  with  effort  she  bent  down. 

"  They  're  all  'ere,  ma'am,"  she  mumbled,  dry 
mouthed;  and  gropingly  collecting  the  trinkets, 
handed  them  back  to  the  owner. 

"  Are  you  hurt,  child  ?  "  inquired  the  lady. 

"  No,  ma'am,  not  'urt ;  I  'm  not  'urt !  "  Pippin 
said,  and  she  tore  from  the  crowd.  "  I  'm  not 
'urt  —  I  'm  honest,  that 's  all ! "  she  was  whispering 
to  herself. 

In  a  daze  she  made  her  way  slowly.  She  tried 
to  realize  what  had  happened.  She  had  tried  to 
steal  and  could  n't  —  it  was  a  miracle. 

"  It 's  Miss ! "  she  said,  her  teeth  chattering. 
"  She  was  n't  about  at  all  —  yet  she  was.  Oh,  I 
could  n't !  You  see  I  could  n't,  no  matter  what 
comes !  I  tried  and  I  could  n't  —  steal !  I  saw 
Miss  —  when  she  was  n't  there ! " 

She  carried  her  cap  that  had  fallen  off  and  dabbed 


PIPPIN  181 

at  her  face  with  the  fur.  Tears  had  sprung  to  her 
eyes  and  trickled  down  her  cheeks,  tears  of  relief 
they  were  and  brought  a  sense  of  comfort.  She 
must  plan  differently.  She  must  go  to  Mrs.  Crim- 
mins  about  the  rent. 

Mrs.  Crimmins  could  have  put  them  out  of 
Jubilee  Court!  And  she  had  not.  She  had  only 
sold  the  useless  wardrobe  they  had  had  nothing  to 
put  into. 

"  I  called  'er  a  snake  in  the  grass !  "  she  repented, 
"an'  she  so  jolly  decent  to  us  all  along,  too! " 

The  sun  was  very  hot  after  the  rain,  and  black 
spots  popped  in  and  out  of  the  air  before  her.  She 
thought  of  the  last  encounter  with  Doll,  and 
stopped,  uncertain  which  way  to  the  Court  would 
be  safest  from  another  meeting.  Then  dully  at  first 
came  into  her  mind  a  new  thought.  It  brought 
her  to  a  standstill. 

"  But  Miss  needed  the  clothes ! "  she  exclaimed. 

But  she  stood  quite  still  for  it  had  become  fear- 
fully clear  to  her  that  in  purloining  the  clothes  from 
Bloomsbury  Square  she  had  not  done  an  honorable 
thing.  She  would  have  Miss  Lawrence  to  reckon 
with. 

"  It 's  all  along  o'  me  thievin'  w'y,"  she  told  her- 
self, moving  on  slowly,  sadly. 

Jubilee  Court  was  reached  at  last.  Ahead  she 
saw  a  fat  man  coming  slowly  toward  her.  He 
turned  abruptly  and  walked  in  the  opposite  direc- 


182  PIPPIN 

tion.  There  was  something  about  him  that  seemed 
familiar.  He  walked  very  fast. 

Pippin  entered  the  house  and  hurried  to  Mrs. 
Crimmins's  door.  She  knocked  softly. 

"  Come  in,"  said  the  caretaker.  She  was  at  a 
table,  busy  over  a  letter. 

"  It 's  only  me,"  Pippin  said.  "  I  've  come  about 
the  rent." 

Mrs  Crimmins's  face  lighted  quickly. 

"  I  'm  sorry  not  to  'ave  it,"  Pippin  said,  "  ex- 
pectin'  it  as  we  are  — " 

Mrs.  Crimmins  frowned,  and  nibbling  the  point 
of  her  pencil,  looked  down  at  her  letter. 

"  I  'm  puttin'  Sally  off  for  a  few  d'ys,"  she  said ; 
"  at  least  I  'm  'oping  to." 

Pippin  came  closer. 

"  Sally  might  fetch  my  little  nipper  back,  Mrs. 
Crimmins." 

Mrs.  Crimmins  mopped  her  face  with  a  large 
handkerchief.  She  wore  a  black  silk  dress  a  little 
frayed  and  a  coquettish  touch  of  lavender  ribbon  at 
her  neck. 

"  The  agent  called  to-day,"  she  said.  "  It 's  the 
first  time  I  've  ever  been  obliged  to  s'y  I  was  behind 
in  a  lodger." 

"  All  I  asks,  Mrs.  Crimmins,  is  a  few  more 
days,"  Pippin  leaned  forward  and  touched  the 
plump  shoulder  earnestly.  "  An'  I  asks  it  for  — 
Miss  Lawrence." 


PIPPIN  183 

Mrs.  Crimmins  shook  her  head,  dismally. 

"  We  all  get  our  just  deserts,"  she  said,  "  an' 
that  American  will  get  'is !  " 

"  Well,"  Pippin  answered,  pondering,  "  it  seems 
to  me,  we  all  'as  our  little  lot  o'  trouble  one  way 
and  another  an'  so  if  it  is  in  the  shape  of  a  man, 
why  we  'd  do  quite  as  well  to  mike  the  best  of  it ; 
becorse  'ave  it  we  will !  " 

Mrs.  Crimmins  unexpectedly  brightened. 

"  Perhaps  that 's  so,"  she  said.  "  Or  you  might 
say  we  all  get  our  just  deserts;  and  if  the  first  'un 
was  trouble,  the  second  might  be  a  comfort  and 
so  a  just  desert,  after  the  first  —  what?  Well," 
the  caretaker  burst  into  confidence,  "  I  'm  goin'  to 
'ave  my  just  deserts.  'E  's  a  cobbler  by  trade. 
I  Ve  been  lending  him  me  savings,  and  'e  's  in- 
vested in  a  certain  thing." 

Pippin  backed  off,  opened  her  arms  and,  swoop- 
ing down  upon  Mrs.  Crimmins,  embraced  her 
heartily. 

"  Sally,  of  course,  won't  'ear  of  it !  "  the  lady  said 
when  she  was  freed.  "  Sally  keeps  such  a  damper 
on  me  spirits.  I  Ve  most  a  mind  to  run  aw'y !  " 

"  Never  do  it !  "  Pippin  perched  thoughtfully  upon 
the  edge  of  the  table.  "  Send  for  'er,  she  can't 
mike  a  row,  if  you  mike  one  first." 

She  slid  back  to  the  floor. 

"  Write  Sally.     When  she  comes,  begin  at  once 


184  PIPPIN 

Sally's  mother  possibly  saw  the  advisability  of 
this,  but  it  hardly  seemed  an  alluring  prospect. 

"  I  sold  the  wardrobe,"  she  announced  suddenly. 
"  I  needed  a  bit  of  ready  money." 

"  It  was  a  surprise,  like,  but  no  matter  —  we 
did  n't  need  it,"  returned  Pippin. 

"  Now  about  the  rent,  I  Ve  put  the  agent  off  four 
d'ys  more.  I  can't  give  you  more  than  that,"  she 
stated  sternly,  "  and  no  doubt  by  then  — " 

"  I  '11  tell  Miss  Lawrence,"  Pippin  said  uncer- 
tainly. "  I  '11  tell  'er  you  give  us  four  d'ys." 

"  I  can't  say  fairer,"  regretted  the  caretaker. 

A  tap,  cautious  and  low,  came  to  the  door. 

"  Ah,"  simpered  Mrs.  Crimmins,  "  'e  's  come. 
'E  will  'ave  me  out  to  Battersea  Park  with  'im  to- 
d'y,  Saturd'y  being  early  closing." 

She  opened  the  door,  admitting  the  same  stout 
person  Pippin  had  previously  noticed  in  the  Court. 
He  started  slightly  upon  seeing  her  but  Mrs.  Crim- 
mins quickly  reassured  him. 

"  Miles,"  she  said,  "  shake  'ands  with  one  of  me 
lodgers ;  Raymond  's  the  name.  I  '11  get  my  hat," 
and  she  hurried  into  the  next  little  room. 

"  Miles ! "  Pippin  said  as  they  shook  hands. 
"  Well,  upon  me  word !  " 

The  smile  faded  from  the  beaming  face  of  Miles. 
But  quickly  the  lodger  put  him  at  ease. 

Don't  mind  me,  Mr.  Miles.     I  don't  tell  every- 


ii 


PIPPIN  185 

think  I  see,  even  to  Dandy.  When  the  weddin  's 
a-coming  off,  is  time  enough  to  speak  of  it  to  him,  an' 
you  're  the  one  to  do  it !  " 

The  face  of  Cobbler  Miles  slipped  back  into  its 
merry  creases. 

"  I  shan't  split!  "  Pippin  said.  "  One  good  turn 
deserves  another  an'  you  did  me  shoe,  did  n't  you  ? 
Though  after  all,  why  should  Dandy  mind  your  hav- 
ing another  missus?  " 

Mrs.  Crimmins  swiftly  returning,  Pippin  wished 
them  a  pleasant  walk  and  slipped  away. 

She  climbed  to  her  room  wearily.  Four  days 
more!  The  pink  frock  and  hat  lay  upon  the  bed. 
Miss  Lawrence  had  worn  both  the  blue  and  white 
frocks !  For  a  few  puzzling  moments  her  greater 
troubles  were  put  aside  while  she  thought  of  this 
eccentricity.  Suddenly  it  came  to  her  and  how  for- 
tunate! The  blue  was  a  lining  to  the  white  and 
matched  the  blue  flower  in  the  frock. 

She  turned  and  met  the  eyes  of  Charles  Browne 
looking  at  her  from  his  photograph. 

"  Ho,"  she  accused  sharply.  "  Yer  loves  'er,  does 
you  ?  Very  good  —  very  good  indeed,  sir !  " 

Revengefully  she  thought  of  the  Earl  who  had 
never  turned  up. 

There  was  writing  material  there  beside  the  pic- 
ture. She  took  it  to  the  table,  sat  down  and  began  a 
letter. 


i86  PIPPIN 

"Respected  Sir,"  she  wrote.  Further  composi- 
tion came  slowly.  She  munched  her  penholder  and 
patiently  awaited  inspiration. 

I  am  maid  to  Miss  Leonora  Lawrence  the  actriss. 
Your  picture  is  on  our  chest  of  drawers,  so  I  fancy 
you  are  a  frend  of  hers  so  ought  to  know  she  's  not 
herself  looks  seedy  acts  strang.  She  has  not  much 
money.  We  are  stoping  in  Jubilee  Court.  A  frend 
in  need  is  a  frend  indede  and  so  she  might  be  glad 
to  see  you  if  you  was  here. 

VICTORIA  ALEXANDRA  RAYMOND. 

Putney  bus  drops  you  off  in  Fulham  Road  near 
Court. 

She  read  the  letter  over  carefully.  She  sighed,  the 
days  ahead  stretched  out  endlessly.  The  letter  must 
go  to  America  and  Mr.  Browne  must  come  —  if  he 
was  coming.  It  would  take,  she  did  not  know  how 
long.  But  she  sealed  and  addressed  the  envelope  to 
Mr.  Brown  at  "  Goshen,  Indiana,"  with  careful  pre- 
cision. 

She  took  it  out,  spent  a  precious  penny  for  a  stamp 
and  posted  the  letter. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

RS.  CALVIN  CLARK  and  her  daugh- 
ter, Elvira,  had  come  to  Europe  from 
Goshen,  Indiana,  with  a  great  deal  of 
money  to  spend.  In  Goshen  the 
darks'  wealth  was  estimated  to  be 
nearly  a  million  dollars,  yet  they  had  never  visited 
Europe  before. 

The  tea-room  of  the  Savoy  was  crowded.  Mrs. 
Clark  looked  about,  her  lorgnons  aiding  the  desired 
effect  of  cool  haughtiness  the  simple  unworldly 
woman  desired  to  affect.  Elvira  Clark  studied  the 
tea-card. 

"  I  'm  hungry,  Mother,"  she  finally  said. 
"  Well,  Elvira,"  the  mother  returned,  "  we  're  just 
having  tea  now.     They  don't  eat  a  great  lot  of  stuff 
at  tea  time  over  here.     Now  don't  show  up  countri- 
fied when  Molly  comes." 

"  She 's  late,"  Elvira  complained.  "  She  was  to 
come  at  five." 

"  I  'm  longing  to  see  her,"  Mrs.  Clark  said. 
"  Maybe  you  'd  better  get  up  and  kind  of  look  round, 
Elvira." 

"  Oh,  Mother,  I  told  her  in  my  note  just  where, 
187 


i88  PIPPIN 

in  this  corner  of  the  room.  Don't  you  s'pose  she 
knows  the  Savoy  ?  " 

"  She 's  probably  at  a  rehearsal  or  something," 
Mrs.  Clark  decided.  "  We  must  n't  call  her  Molly, 
either;  she  might  get  mad.  Leonora  will  be  hard, 
but  try  to  remember  it,  Elvira." 

At  that  moment  Leonora  was  within  ten  minutes 
of  her  destination.  It  had  been  a  long  walk  from 
Jubilee  Court  and  she  had  taken  it  slowly  to  pre- 
vent an  agitated  or  overheated  appearance  upon  her 
arrival.  She  might  have  ridden  part  way,  but  it 
was  hard  to  part  with  her  last  bit  of  money  and 
she  chose  to  spend  one  of  her  pennies  upon  a  letter 
that  she  had  written  to  Mr.  Browne.  It  was  a  final 
letter. 

Her  cup  of  bitterness  was  full  to  the  brim.  She 
decided  that  there  were  to  be  no  more  compulsory 
interviews  with  people  from  home,  no  further  risk 
of  being  discovered,  a  miserable  failure;  no  more 
trying  to  fool  Charlie  about  things.  She  had  writ- 
ten him  and  arbitrarily  stopped  the  correspondence. 

She  was  very  tired  when  she  reached  the  Savoy. 
When  at  first  she  appeared  in  the  tea-room,  she 
stood  somewhat  dazed,  looking  round,  trying  to  dis- 
tinguish the  faces  and  recall  the  corner  Elvira  had 
especially  named  in  the  note.  Then  she  saw  little 
Elvira  Clark  coming  toward  her. 

"  Darling,"  cried  Elvira,  seizing  her  hand,  "  how 
beautiful  and  pale  and  interesting  you  are.  Have 


PIPPIN  189 

you  just  come  from  a  rehearsal;  and  are  you  all 
tired  out?" 

She  drew  her  guest  to  their  table  where  she  was 
cordially  embraced  by  Mrs.  Clark. 

"  You  dear  child !  "  said  the  hostess.  "  How  nice 
of  you  to  come !  " 

"  Is  n't  she  stunning,  Mother !  "  enthused  Elvira. 
"  We  were  just  crazy  to  see  you !  Were  n't  we, 
Mother?" 

A  waiter  drew  a  chair  and  Leonora  sat  down. 

"  You  look  tired,  dear,  but  that  interesting  tired !  " 
Elvira  said,  covering  Leonora's  hand  with  her  own 
little  plump  one. 

"  Elvira  would  never  get  to  look  that  way  though," 
Mrs.  Clark  deplored.  "  She  eats  too  much  and 
sleeps  too  much." 

Leonora  laughed.  Elvira  looked  very  plump  and 
wholesome  to  her.  Mrs.  Clark  leaned  embracingly 
close. 

"  I  wish  Elvira  could  (Jo  her  hair  like  yours.  My 
dear,  she  's  worn  her  hair  as  it  is  now  ever  since 
she  first  put  it  up,  three  years  ago,"  the  mother  mur- 
mured plaintively.  Her  daughter  had  become  busy 
with  the  waiter. 

"  I  'm  sure  she  looks  awfully  nice,"  said  Le- 
onora. 

"  We  just  love  this  English  tea-drinking  busi- 
ness," Mrs.  Clark  went  on,  and  Elvira  broke  in. 

"  Mother,  I  'm  hungry.     I  'm  going  to  order  this 


190  PIPPIN 

queer  Monte  Carlo  thing.  The  waiter  says  it 's 
made  of  eggs  and  something  and  that  it 's  good." 

The  attendant  emphasized  his  recommendation  of 
the  delicacy,  adding, 

"If  one  is  hungry !  " 

"  Probably  Leonora  's  had  no  lunch,  rehearsing  all 
day.  Sometimes  they  don't  get  any,"  Elvira  said. 
"  Bring  that,  waiter." 

"  I  'm  not  really  hungry,"  the  guest  murmured, 
yet  feeling  most  disinclined  for  the  beverage  Pippin 
so  persistently  supplied  her. 

The  words  of  her  hostess  were  not  unwelcome. 

"  Maybe  you  'd  better  eat,  dear,  even  if  it 's  not 
the  fashion.  You  must  keep  up  your  strength. 
Charlie  said  you  'd  probably  be  rehearsing.  Too 
bad  about '  The  Tenderfoot/  was  n't  it  ?  Now  say, 
dear,"  Mrs.  Clark  leaned  nearer,  "  would  you  advise 
Elvira's  trying  to  get  on  the  stage  over  here?  I 
s'pose  you  couldn't  help  her?" 

"  Oh,  Mother,  there  's  time  enough  for  me  going 
on  the  stage.  Anyhow  I  'm  going  to  start  at  home." 
Elvira  sat  stroking  Leonora's  hand. 

Her  mother  sank  back. 

"  She  '11  never  go  on  the  stage"  she  said.  "  It 's 
funny,  out  of  five  girls,  not  one  of  them  to  have  my 
ambition.  I  had  to  marry,  but  they,  why  they  could 
do  anything  with  the  money  and  all.  Now,  El- 
vira '11  settle  down  there  in  Goshen  just  like  the 
others,  you  see ! " 


PIPPIN  191 

Leonora  smiled  at  Elvira.  She  had  always 
liked  her.  She  was  a  nice  girl,  with  the  attrac- 
tion of  health,  contentment  and  knowing  her  own 
mind. 

"  We  leave  for  Paris  to-night,"  she  told  Leonora 
quickly,  smiling  in  her  sunny  way.  "  Pa  's  going  to 
meet  us  there,  and  Sidney  Long.  Remember  Sid? 
He  's  gotten  awfully  tall." 

Leonora  did  remember  Sid. 

"  How  I  wish  we  could  see  you  act,"  chirped  El- 
vira. "  Say,  we  're  coming  back  to  London  to  sail 
for  home.  Where '11  you  be  playing?" 

"  When  are  you  coming?  "  Leonora  asked.  "  One 
can  never  be  certain  of  anything  in  this  profession. 
I  may,  you  know,  go  en  tour  for  a  little." 

"  Well,  say,  you  drop  a  line  here  to  the  Savoy  for 
us  about  the  middle  of  August,"  suggested  Mrs. 
Clark.  "Will  you?" 

Leonora  promised.  The  waiter  came.  Elvira's 
hearty  appetite  was  not  unshared  by  Leonora  while 
Mrs.  Clark  prattled  on  of  her  ambition  for  her 
daughter. 

The  color  came  back  to  Leonora's  face. 

"  Where  are  you  stopping,  dear  ?  "  Mrs.  Clark 
unexpectedly  questioned. 

"  Oh,"  said  Leonora,  "  I  am  stopping  in  a  quaint 
little  street  in  Chelsea.  It 's  very  quiet  there  and 
nice  for  study.  It 's  not  expensive  and  I  was  glad 
to  find  it." 


192  PIPPIN 

"  You  're  a  wonderful  girl,"  Mrs.  Clark  said  en- 
viously. "  I  think  it  was  the  most  daring  thing, 
your  coming  over  here  all  alone  as  you  did.  None 
of  my  girls  would  have  done  it.  Let 's  see,  you  're 
twenty,  aren't  you,  Molly  —  Leonora,  I  mean? 
You  're  twenty  and  Elvira  is  eighteen.  You  've 
been  over  here  —  how  long?  " 

Leonora  sat  up  stiffly,  one  hand  grasping  her  tea- 
spoon, the  other  clinched  in  her  lap.  She  was 
afraid  if  Mrs.  Clark  kept  on  she  should  betray  her- 
self! Then  she  thought  weakly,  after  all,  they 
were  only  two  simple  women,  her  own  townspeople, 
good  and  generous;  she  swallowed  hard;  she  had 
only  to  hint  at  her  plight.  .  .  . 

She  believed  if  the  words  did  come  out,  that  she 
should  die.  In  this  momentary  battle  between  her 
weakness  and  her  pride,  and  while  Mrs.  Clark  prat- 
tled on,  her  eyes  took  vaguely  in  all  the  details 
of  Elvira's  dress,  its  costliness,  its  lack  of  style; 
she  noticed  the  paradise  feather  on  Mrs.  Clark's 
hat. 

What  if  Elvira  and  her  mother  knew  how  she 
was  living!  They  would  tell  Mr.  Clark  and  Sid 
Long,  who  was  a  friend  of  Charlie's.  It  would 
make  a  story  worth  telling. 

Leonora  looked  down  at  her  own  dress.  Pippin 
was  a  wonder.  She  must  have  gone  to  Mrs.  Penley 
and  persuaded  —  a  dull,  horrifying  possibility  oc- 
curred to  her.  She  hadn't  thought  of  it  when 


PIPPIN  193 

she  put  the  welcome  things  on.  But  no,  Pippin 
could  n't,  she  could  n't  have  stolen  the  things !  How 
could  she? 

Mrs.  Clark  was  still  speaking: 

"  Is  n't  it  wonderful ! "  she  looked  at  the  girl's 
white  face,  "what  you  are  doing?  Oh,  if  I  was 
young  — ! " 

"  Oh,  it 's  not  so  wonderful,  Mrs.  Clark.  Lots 
of  girls  do  it."  She  moved  restively.  "  I  'm  sorry 
to  run  away  so  soon  but  I  '11  simply  have  to  — " 
She  spoke  truely.  A  few  more  minutes  would  have 
meant  her  betrayal.  "  I  am  so  glad  to  have  seen 
you." 

"  Come  on  up  to  our  rooms,"  urged  Elvira. 

"  I  wish  I  could,  but  I  can't,  thank  you,  dear," 
Leonora  rose  steadily.  "  I  must  get  along  now. 
When  you  come  back  I  will,  if  I  may." 

She  forced  an  engaging  smile.  Elvira  hugged  her 
and  hanging  upon  her  arm,  with  Mrs.  Clark  follow- 
ing, they  moved  through  the  room. 

"  Now,  say,"  Elvira  gushed  when  they  were  with- 
out, "  we  Ve  a  car  hired  all  the  time  and  it  can  take 
you  home  and  get  back  before  we  need  it,  can't  it, 
Mother!" 

"  Well,  it  must  take  Leonora  home,  Elvira !  "  as- 
sented Mrs.  Clark  cordially. 

From  one  to  the  other  Leonora  went  to  be  clasped 
and  embraced  and  finally  the  car  drew  up  and  she 
was  stowed  into  it. 


194  PIPPIN 

"  Take  care  of  your  pretty  self,"  were  Mrs. 
Clark's  last  words. 

"  Thank  God,"  Leonora  murmured,  as  the  car 
moved  away. 

She  sat  dully  wondering  about  such  things  as 
whether  Sid  Long  would  buy  that  house  Charlie  had 
written  her  about.  Sid  Long  was  to  be  Elvira's 
career!  Charlie  Browne  might  marry,  too.  He 
could  n't  go  through  life  moping  over  a  certain  girl 
named  Mollie.  She  began  to  cry,  words  came  from 
her  lips  whisperingly : 

"  Charlie  Browne,  I  wish  you  would  come  and  get 
me.  I  want  you !  " 

She  must  go  back  to  Pippin.  She  could  hardly 
bear  to  face  it.  Pippin  who  stole !  Hard  accusing 
words  rose  righteously  to  Leonora's  lips.  She  was 
again  her  victim  —  contaminated  by  going  out  in 
stolen  clothing.  But  suddenly  she  asked  herself, 
was  she  better  or  even  as  good  as  this  unfortunate 
child?  She  realized  with  pain  that  her  own  plight 
had  instigated  the  theft  —  if  theft  it  was.  Eager- 
ness to  appear  well  to  these  home  people  had  let 
her  dress  herself  up  regardlessly  —  only  she  had  n't 
thought  of  it  at  the  time.  Tears  coursed  down  her 
cheeks.  She  had  known  her  weakness  yet  stayed 
with  Pippin.  But  had  not  the  girl  needed  her? 
Was  this  the  reward  for  standing  by  her  ? 

"Oh,  Charlie  Browne!"  she  sobbed,  as  though 
he  could  help.  She  saw  clearly  that  her  angry  re- 


PIPPIN  195 

proof  was  the  last  thing  to  be  visited  on  poor  Pip- 
pin! She  understood  too  clearly  that  Pippin's  re- 
covery of  her  clothes  was  intentionally  a  reward. 

The  car  turned  into  Jubilee  Court  and  moved 
through  the  narrow  passage  slowly.  It  stopped. 
She  did  not  get  out  at  once,  she  felt  dull  and  queer. 
Then  the  voice  of  Pippin  and  her  firm,  guiding  little 
hand  roused  Leonora. 

She  felt  herself  led  as  upon  the  first  time  she 
came  to  Jubilee  Court,  up  the  stairs  and  into  the 
little  room.  She  suffered  the  removal  of  her  clothes. 

"  That 's  over  awright,  and  in  tip-top  style  too," 
she  heard  from  Pippin. 

For  a  moment  it  was  gratifying  that  Pippin 
should  see  she  had  friends,  little  Pippin  who  had 
stolen  the  clothes  for  her  to  go  pleasuring  in. 

Suddenly  Leonora  wheeled  and  faced  her.  Pip- 
pin stood  still,  her  black  eyes  met  Leonora's  in  tragic 
expectancy.  They  looked  at  each  other.  Pippin 
backed  to  the  chest  of  drawers,  propping  herself 
against  it. 

"  I  went  to  Bloomsbury  Square  and  your  box  was 
in  the  entry-way,  off  the  kitchen.  I  got  the  maid  to 
go  upstairs  to  ask  Mrs.  Penley  could  I  see  'er  an' 
then  I  went  in  an'  found  the  box  and  'aving  your 
keys  along,  I  opened  it  and  got  the  things." 

"  You  took  the  keys,"  accused  Leonora  sharply. 

Pippin  cowered.  "  You  did  n't  dream  'ow  I  'd  got 
'em  when  you  dossed  up,"  she  threw  out. 


196  PIPPIN 

Was  she  taunting  her,  wondered  Leonora, 
ashamed. 

"  You  know  I  did  not !  I  did  n't  stop  to  think  — 
I  've  trusted  you,  you  see !  And  you  know  I  would 
never  have  allowed  your  doing  such  a  thing !  " 

"  Oh,  yes,"  but  Pippin  was  bitter,  "  I  know  that. 
I  wanted  you  to  'ave  the  things,  no  matter  'ow — 
even  if  I  went  to  quod.  That 's  'ow  I  felt,  when  I 
did  it  I  wanted  to  do  su'think  for  you  —  but 
you  can't  understand.  It 's  'ere.  I  wanted  you  to 
'ave  the  things  no  matter  'ow ;  then,  just  now  —  but 
after  I  'd  done  it,  I  saw  I  did  n't  want  you  to  'ave 
them  that  bad,  or  that  way,  because  you  would  n't 
want  to  and  so  I  see  I  was  off  the  track  and  still  a 
wrong  'un  — "  she  despaired. 

Leonora  looked  up. 

But  a  tortured  light  gleamed  in  Pippin's  eyes.  A 
light  of  self-inflicted  punishment. 

"  That 's  not  all  I  done.  I  tried  for  su'think  else 
—  a  purse ! " 

Leonora  started  back. 

Pippin  opened  her  arms,  her  palms. 

"I  tried  — and  I  couldn't,"  simply.  "  D'  yer 
believe  me  —  oh,"  wildly,  "  do  you,  Miss  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  Leonora  said  bravely.     "  I  believe  you." 

She  sank  into  a  chair,  trying  to  be  calm. 

"  Oh,  Pippin,  I  want  to  help  you  — " 

"  Then  don't  leave  me  yet.  Believe  me,  Miss, 
and  stay  with  me  a  bit  longer,  don't  leave  me  — " 


PIPPIN  197 

It  was  the  postman  knocking  and  persistently  call- 
ing "  Raymond !  "  that  broke  upon  them. 

"  See  what  it  is,"  Leonora  bade  her.  Pippin 
moved  to  the  door,  drying  her  tears.  Yes,  the  post- 
man called  her  name  and  she  slipped  out.  There 
was  a  postcard  from  Dandy.  On  one  side  a  raised 
floral  design  of  great  beauty,  on  the  other  a  mes- 
sage. 

Lordship  been  fretty.  Me  on  the  jump,  tied  hand 
and  foot  Got  eye  on  tip-top  thing  for  me  Pippin. 

D. 

Dandy  was  good!  The  message  brightened  the 
ending  of  a  heavy  day. 


CHAPTER  XIV 


HE  hardy  contour  of  her  apple-cheek 
was    softened    to   oval.     The    ruddy 
color  had  paled  .to   the   delicacy   of 
rose  pink.     Her  bodices  had  been  al- 
tered for  she  liked  them  snug. 
Nothing  else  occurred  to  mark  the  slow  passing 
of  time  except  the  dwindling  of  the  marmalade 
while  the  contents  of  the  tea-canister  seemed  fairly 
to  evaporate. 

Ancient  rolls  were  cheapest  and  steamed  over  the 
kettle,  spread  lightly  with  that  delicacy  known  as 
dripping,  by  Pippin  were  esteemed  most  delectable. 
But  Miss  Lawrence  ate  them  in  their  stale  crispness, 
preferring  marmalade  to  dripping.  She  left  the 
housekeeping  problem  entirely  to  Pippin ;  who,  striv- 
ing to  provide  some  delicacy  at  least  once  a  day,  did 
not  know  that  receiving  anything  at  all  to  eat  was 
now  a  surprise  to  the  young  lady. 

Past  were  the  days  of  shrimps  and  watercress! 
And  suet  puddings,  steamed  in  a  pot  that  hung  from 
a  crane  over  the  little  grate  fire,  were  no  more. 
Miss  Lawrence,  it  seemed,  was  off  puddings  any- 

198 


PIPPIN  199 

how,  in  spite  of  a  vow  she  had  once  made  that  de- 
lighted Pippin. 

"  I  shall  never  again  feel  properly  nourished  with- 
out suet  puddings,  my  little  friend  —  they  are  life 
giving !  "  were  her  words. 

The  last  pudding  she  had  managed  seemed  to 
Pippin  very  pasty  from  too  much  water  and  not 
enough  flour  and  she  had  lacked  heart  to  press  Miss 
Lawrence  to  finish  her  portion. 

So  she  could  only  keep  a  roll  on  the  round,  clean, 
little  wooden  bread-plate,  and  the  marmalade  which 
she  never  touched  herself,  handy  for  Miss  Lawrence 
at  any  time,  because  of  late  she  only  nibbled,  and 
nibbling  should  be  done  often,  if  one  can  be  tempted 
to  it. 

Pippin  for  her  part  had  a  craving  —  it  seemed 
to  be  for  the  soothing  drop.  In  spite  of  every- 
thing! But  she  failed  to  consider  her  craving's 
source.  This  time  not  wholly  wanton;  it  was  ag- 
gravated by  need  of  wholesome  food.  Strange  to 
her,  temptation  had  taken  new  form.  Pippin's 
eyes  raised  ever  and  again  to  Their  Majesties.  In 
no  extremity  had  she  ever  thought  of  them!  And 
now  this  morning  —  well,  how  they  stood  out  on 
the  wall.  Perhaps  they  had  done  that  with  her 
dad.  She  turned  her  back  to  the  pictures  and 
thought  of  Dandy.  He  was  her  hero. 

Having  a  hero  and  a  lovely  lady  who  expects  your 
splendid  promises  kept  is  a  help  —  a  big  help.  Yet 


200  PIPPIN 

could  either  of  them  know  what  it  was  to  want  — 
spirits !  That  was  it,  they  did  n't  know.  She  knew 
—  and  yes,  her  dad  knew !  And  old  Kitty !  That 
kind  knew.  But  she  was  not  that  kind.  A  sure 
alternative  came  to  her  mind.  But  ah  —  Miss  Law- 
rence had  said :  "  That  is  a  coward's  way !  " 

Suddenly  a  whistle  —  Dandy's,  trilled  summarily 
from  the  street.  She  looked  out.  He  beckoned 
frantically.  She  understood  —  he  had  come  about 
a  situation.  She  seized  her  cap,  but  her  eye  caught 
Miss  Lawrence's  pink  hat  on  the  bed,  too.  Faded 
and  partly  discarded  it  was  now,  but  it  was  better 
than  the  cap  and,  inspired  to  look  her  best  because 
of  Dandy's  recommendation,  she  caught  up  the  hat. 
It  suggested  the  pink  parasol  in  the  corner. 

She  descended  to  the  Court,  obscured  to  the  eye- 
brows, the  pink  hat  flopping  rakishly.  But  her  face 
below  was  a  happy,  hopeful  sight  —  the  worry  of 
temptation  forgotten. 

"  'S'truth,"  Dandy  greeted,  "  you  do  look  nobby !  " 

"  Lummy,  old  chap,  I  'm  all  of  a-tremble  between 
fear  and  'ope!  What  is  it?  "  she  panted. 

"  Barmaid,  dear,  at  The  Rose  and  Crown ! " 

"  Barmaid  ?  "  her  lips  framed  the  words  but  no 
sound  came  forth. 

A  chill  crept  along  down  her  back.  She  leaned 
against  the  lamp-post,  on  the  corner  they  had 
reached. 

"  Barmaid !  "  she  finally  got  it  out  aloud.     *'  You 


PIPPIN  201 

don't  mean  it —  oh,  Dandy,  anythink  but  that.  I 
could  n't,  you  know  — " 

"  A  barmaid's  berth  is  awright,  Victoria  Alex- 
andra," he  looked  at  her  in  surprise. 

But  he  saw  that  her  face  was  fearful. 

"  In  the  bar  where  the  drink  is  — "  she  mumbled 
wildly,  hardly  realizing  she  had  said  it,  until  he 
started  back,  staring. 

"  That 's  what  you  're  afraid  of,"  he  accused ; 
"the  drink!" 

She  could  not  speak. 

"  You  —  you  've  been  used  to  spirits !  "  He  drew 
farther  away,  pulled  his  hat  over  his  eyes  and  looked 
at  her  from  under  it. 

"  That 's  what  your  Doll  person  meant ! "  he 
fairly  sneered. 

He  looked  round  as  though  expecting  to  see  Doll. 
His  eyes  came  back  to  Pippin  —  his  kind  eyes,  cold 
and  shocked. 

"  What  else?  "  he  demanded.     "  Stealing?  " 

The  girl  stood  as  though  rooted  to  the  spot,  the 
wide  hat  almost  covering  her  face.  Yet  she  peered 
out,  fearfully,  fascinated  by  Dandy's  wrathful  con- 
tempt. 

"Stealing!"  he  said. 

Suddenly  he  leaped  toward  her. 

"What  else?" 

She  started,  faintly  comprehending  yet  doubting 
his  meaning. 


202  PIPPIN 

"What  else?"  he  thundered,  arms  rigid,  fists 
doubled. 

"  Dandy,  oh,  Dandy !  "  She  threw  off  the  hat  to 
see  him,  to  lift  up  her  pleading  face.  "  Dandy,  old 
chap  —  nothink  else !  Nothink  else  —  I  swears  it !  " 

He  grasped  her  folded  hands,  bent  and  peered 
long  into  her  eyes.  Then  he  threw  her  back.  His 
head  dropped  forward,  hands  went  to  his  pockets. 

"  Dandy,"  she  begged.  "  Give  us  a  chanct  — 
one  chanct.  I  '11  go  and  be  barmaid,  I  '11  show  you 
I  'm  str'ight !  I  am  str'ight,  s'elp  me !  I  'm  str'ight 
as  you  — " 

"  You  '11  go  there  and  try  ?  "  he  looked  up. 

She  caught  up  the  hat. 

"  Come,  make  'aste !  " 

He  looked  round. 

"  If  I  could  get  me  'ands  on  that  person  — " 

"  Yes,"  Pippin  sobbed,  "  she  learned  me,  but  it 
was  n't  all  Doll !  It  was  Dad,  it  was  — " 

"Your  dad?" 

"  'E  was  always  out  o'  work !  " 

Dandy's  face  worked  convulsively. 

"  You  believe  me,  Dandy?  "  she  whispered,  think- 
ing back,  of  his  fearful  question.  "  You  don't  be- 
lieve—" 

She  failed  to  see  the  pitying  tenderness  of  his 
face,  or  to  comprehend  that  speech  would  not  come 
for  his  suffering. 

She  held  out  her  hands,  pleadingly. 


PIPPIN  203 

"  Dandy,"  she  wailed,  "  oh,  Dandy,  me  'ero  — " 

He  swung  round,  opened  his  arms  and  caught  her 
to  him. 

"  Come,"  he  said  in  a  moment,  "  to  The  Rose  and 
Crown!" 

They  started,  clinging  closely  together.  She 
talked ;  from  the  beginning,  she  told  him  everything. 
It  was  awful  to  hurt  him  so.  And  he  was  so  kind 
and  so  wild,  looking  out  all  the  time  for  somebody 
upon  whom  to  revenge  her.  Then  she  told  him, 
almost  laughing,  that  to  show  'em  was  the  way.  To 
go  str'ight  was  showing  'em!  And  to  be  barmaid, 
be  actually  engaged  where  spirits  flowed  free  as  the 
Thames  —  and  not  to  even  taste  — !  He  caught  her 
hands:  "Can  you  do  it,  dear?"  Could  she! 
And  that  was  not  all  she  would  be  doing.  Her  re- 
form was  to  be  complete !  When  they  reached  the 
place  he  paused  to  instruct  her :  "  I  '11  stop  outside 
not  to  rattle  you  like,  see?"  he  said.  "The  old 
barkeep  's  waiting.  I  've  told  'im  you  're  inexperi- 
enced but  sharp  and  learns  quick.  Tell  'im  practice 
makes  perfect  and  in  a  little  time  you  can  mix  any- 
think  'e  can ! " 

He  saw  her  enter  the  barroom,  then  lighting  his 
pipe,  took  up  a  feverish  pacing  before  the  place.  At 
last  he  knew.  And  ah,  how  she  needed  him. 

She  made  her  retreat  from  The  Rose  and  Crown 
backward,  the  parasol  shoved  out  as  a  kind  of 
feeler. 


204  PIPPIN 

"  You  've  got  it,  old  gal  ?  "  He  caught  her  hand 
and  beamed  upon  her  hat. 

"  I  starts  to-night.  I  'm  not  afraid  — "  she  whis- 
pered, "  I  starts  to-night  at  seven." 

She  stood,  leaning  against  him,  and  gazed  over 
the  entrance  of  The  Rose  and  Crown.  Adjoining 
it  was  The  Royal  Theater  of  Varieties,  and  while 
in  the  barroom  she  had  seen  swinging  doors  leading 
to  the  foyer  of  the  Variety  Emporium ;  a  matter  of 
great  convenience  to  the  patrons  of  each 'establish- 
ment! 

"  Come,"  he  said,  "  we  '11  go  along  an'  drop  in 
for  ices  some  plice  in  the  Circus,  what?  Look  out 
for  the  parasol  then,  parasols  can  do  a  bit  o'  dam- 
age ! "  He  pressed  her  arm  fondly,  with  the  warn- 
ing. 

"  These  togs  belongs  to  me  young  lady,"  she  ex- 
plained. Then  suddenly,  "  What  I  'd  give  to  see  'er 
and  —  an  earl  — " 

"  I  'm  happy  to  tell  you  'is  lordship  has  had  a  bit 
o'  luck;  a  windfall!"  broke  in  Dandy.  "  'E  sold 
what  'e  called  a  rotten  sketch.  It  'ad  been  a  whole 
melodramer,  but  'e  carved  it  down  for  a  man  not 
wishing  so  much  of  a  pl'y  an'  sold  it  to  'im,  see?  " 

Pippin  nodded,  the  pink  brim  flopped. 

"  It  was  a  windfall !  It  brought  us  in  quite  a 
bit,"  continued  Dandy,  "  and  if  it  should  ever  make 
a  hit,  'is  lordship  is  to  'ave  some  more  money, 


PIPPIN  205 

though  'e  says  a  hit  is  the  last  thing  it  '11  make !  'E 
does  laugh  about  it,  now  and  then  —  but  'e  's  deep 
in  on  a  new  'un.  A  rum  thing  'e  says,  if  it  works 
out.  He  talks  very  little.  Oh,  'e  's  in  very  deep 
indeed  on  the  new  pl'y  an'  it 's  very  seldom  I  leaves 
'im!" 

They  moved  along  slowly.  Suddenly  Pippin's 
glance  was  attracted  by  the  posters  arrayed  near 
the  entrance  to  the  Royal  Theater  of  Varieties. 

"  Look !  "  she  cried,  drawing  him  nearer,  "  only 
look,  old  chap.  'Ere  is  a  grand  pl'y  coming  to  The 
Royal." 

They  drew  up  and  looked  closely,  eagerly  at  the 
picture-poster.  It  depicted  a  gentleman  in  the  act 
of  counting  the  enormous  gems  of  a  necklace  and, 
from  a  window  behind,  a  masked  burglar  had  en- 
tered and  crept  upon  him.  But  even  as  the  villain 
advanced  on  his  victim,  a  slender,  fair-haired  form, 
in  trailing  white  negligee  came  gliding  behind,  point- 
ing a  revolver  at  the  robber's  head. 

"  Go  it !  "  Pippin  shrieked,  clinging  to  Dandy. 
"  Pluck  'im,  Miss !  Pluck  'im  in  the  crumpet !  " 

Dandy  shook  her. 

"  Only  a  pl'y,  old  gal ;  keep  calm ! " 

"  It 's  coming  to  The  Royal,"  she  shrilled. 
"There  y'  are,  only  read  it.  'Coming!  Coming! 
This  great  one-act  play.  "Miss  Nestor's  Neck- 
lace." Coming! ' " 


206  PIPPIN 

But  Dandy  drew  her  away,  because  his  lordship 
would  be  waiting  and  there  was  just  time  to  stop 
for  ices. 

They  reached  a  crossing,  leading  out  of  Piccadilly 
Circus  and  here  were  halted  before  a  parade  of 
"  The  Great  Army  of  Unemployed,"  as  the  march- 
ers' banner  enlightened. 

"  Bally  bounders,"  growled  Dandy.  "  A  pack  of 
bally  bounders ! " 

Pippin  started,  her  arm  which  he  affectionately 
grasped  stiffened,  and  peering  down  under  the  hat 
Dandy  saw  how  startled  she  looked. 

He  stared  round,  suspecting  Doll's  presence  but 
no  sign  of  her! 

"  What  is  it,  tell  us  now !  Are  you  'ungry  ?  You 
are!" 

He  was  terrified. 

"  G'  on ! "  she  said  with  attempted  raillery. 
"No,  I'm  not 'ungry!" 

She  peered  after  the  line  of  unemployed  and 
looked  again  at  the  little  bright-eyed  man,  carrying 
the  banner.  Their  eyes  had  met,  he  had  briefly  fal- 
tered but  there  was  no  welcoming  recognition  in  his 
daughter's  face. 

"  Come  along  o'  Dandy,"  her  lover  said,  drawing 
her  with  him.  "  You  're  that  soft  'carted  you  fancy 
they're  suffering." 

He  nodded  after  the  band  of  British  working- 
men. 


PIPPIN  207 

"  Some  of  'em  perhaps  would  turn  an  honest 
penny,"  he  added  a  little  less  harshly,  "  but  most  of 
'em,  my  dear,  are  bally  bounders.  The  thought  o' 
v/ork  gives  'em  the  sick." 

She  did  not  answer  and  a  little  farther  along 
Dandy  ushered  her  into  a  tea-shop  where  he  gave  an 
order  for  sandwiches,  boiled  eggs,  tea  and  seed- 
cake, to  be  followed  by  ices,  an  order  generous 
enough  to  astound  any  young  lady.  Pippin  fell  to 
with  relish.  The  disappearance  of  sandwiches  was 
rapid  and  Dandy  gave  up  counting  both  from  won- 
der and  realizing  the  bad  form  of  keeping  tab  on 
your  guest's  appetite.  And  how  they  made  up  with 
the  strong  hot  tea  for  what  she  had  wanted !  They 
had  come  to  the  ices  when  Dandy,  surprised  by  a 
look  from  under  the  pink  hat,  reached  out  for  her 
hand  so  clumsily  that  her  spoon  went  rattling  to 
the  floor,  but  with  a  solemn  handshake  he  said: 
"  You  're  my  gal.  I  'm  your  old  man,  dear  —  see 
what  I  mean!" 

"  You  fair  are  a  'ero! "  she  murmured,  half  sob- 
bingly,  astonished  at  the  reality  of  such  things. 
"  And  I  'm  not  afraid  —  of  nothing! " 

As  Pippin  returned  to  Jubilee  Court  she  was 
struck  suddenly  anew  with  the  first  force  of  its 
peaceful  beauty.  For  days  her  senses  had  been  dull 
to  the  clean  little  windows,  the  fragrant,  flowering 
window-boxes.  To-day  she  saw  it  all  with  old  ap- 
preciation, even  discovering  the  vines  to  have  crept 


208  PIPPIN 

farther  up  the  house  in  which  she  dwelt  and  that 
soon  one  little  fork  would  reach  her  window. 

"  The  pretty  thing  'as  been  climbin'  all  the  time," 
she  smiled,  "  an'  I  not  seein'  it !  I  don't  fancy  Miss 
'as  seen  it  neither !  " 

She  bounded  up  the  steps  but  entered  her  room 
softly.  Of  late  she  had  been  more  gentle  in  man- 
ner, bearing  a  tenderly  reverent  attitude  toward 
Miss  Lawrence  whom  she  sometimes  found  sitting 
near  the  window,  her  body  very  still  as  though  she 
had  left  it  there  and  gone  in  mind,  perhaps,  back 
over  the  sea  to  her  own  country. 

She  was  there  when  Pippin  came  in. 

"  It 's  come,  Miss,  the  good  luck ! "  said  Pippin 
softly. 

Miss  Lawrence  looked  up;  she  stared  and  at  last 
smiled. 

"  I  've  got  work,  Miss.  I  'm  took  on  as  barmaid, 
at  The  Rose  and  Crown!  'Alf  a  sovereign  a  week 
is  the  wages  an'  me  teas  found,  I  bein'  on  duty  from 
three  in  the  afternoon  to  eleven-thirty  at  night ! " 
She  raised  her  hand  to  straighten  her  cap  and  felt 
the  hat. 

"  I  am  just  awfully  glad,  Pippin,"  Miss  Lawrence 
said,  "  and  I  see  you  found  something  to  dress  up  a 
little  in." 

"  It  was  so  important,  Miss,  an'  I  felt  quite  cer- 
tain of  me  luck  if  I  'ad  it  on  —  you  're  not  vexed,  I 
'ope!" 


PIPPIN  209 

"  I  am  only  thinking,"  said  Leonora,  "  how  really 
becoming  pink  is  to  you.  I  wear  the  hat  with  the 
large  roses  on  the  side  rather  than  in  the  back,  but 
anyhow  you  've  got  the  position  and  if  you  think 
the  hat  helped  — " 

Pippin  flew  to  the  glass. 

"  I  ain't  exactly  suited  to  it,"  she  admitted,  re- 
moving it  carefully. 

"  Then,"  Miss  Lawrence  said  decidedly,  "  it  must 
be  made  to  suit  you." 

She  took  the  hat  and  bent  up  a  side  of  the  brim. 

"  Bring  me  some  thread  and  a  needle,"  she  said. 

Now  the  only  thing  marring  great  happiness  for 
Pippin  was  knowledge  of  the  letter  she  had  posted 
the  night  before  and  which  must  be  then  on  its  way 
across  the  sea  to  the  town  of  Goshen,  Indiana. 


CHAPTER  XV 

|R.  DICKY  ROGERS,  acting  manager 
of  The  Royal  Theater  of  Varieties, 
found  The  Rose  and  Crown  most  con- 
venient to  his  frequent  needs.  The 
Rose  and  Crown  no  doubt  looked  upon 
Mr.  Rogers  as  a  profitable  patron.  In  his  ultimate 
capacity  of  patron  and  friend,  he  spoke  approvingly 
of  the  new  barmaid  to  the  managing  bartender,  who, 
no  longer  a  young  man,  desired  a  spry  assistant. 

Mr.  Dicky  was  the  first  to  be  served  by  her.  He 
took  his  drink  with  her  eager  eyes  glowing  through 
his  glass.  Mr.  Rogers  was  accustomed  to  having 
his  approval  sought  but  he  was  in  an  amiable  mood, 
perhaps,  that  night  for  he  praised  the  little  barmaid 
heartily. 

"  Don't  tell  me  you  're  a  novice,"  he  grinned  at 
her  and  winked  at  the  landlord.  He  smacked  his 
lips  comically  over  the  B.  &  S. 

It  made  Pippin  laugh.  She  thought  Mr.  Rogers 
most  awfully  jolly  and  nice.  It  seemed  a  gentle- 
manly thing  to  put  himself  out  so  for  the  encour- 
agement of  a  poor  girl.  Mr.  Rogers  soon  found 

210 


PIPPIN  211 

out,  too,  that  the  little  barmaid  was  interested  in 
what  went  on  in  The  Royal. 

"  I  loves  a  good  pl'y,"  she  told  him  one  night. 
"  There 's  a  young  man  of  my  acquaintance  which 
goes  to  all  the  first  nights,  nearly.  'E  's  ever  so 
good  a  judge  — 'is  master  's  a  pl'ymaker,  writes  'em, 
y'know!" 

"  Indeed!  "  Mr.  Dicky  said. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  nodded  Pippin,  "  and  we  're  both  very 
much  interested  in  a  pl'y  we  see  billed  outside  'ere 
— *  Miss  Nestor's  Necklace  ' !  " 

"  Yes,  that 's  coming  —  we  're  counting  a  lot  on 
that,"  said  Mr.  Rogers  hopefully.  "  I  've  got  a  new 
card  begins  to-night  too,"  he  added,  this  so  every 
one  could  hear.  "  She  's  been  a  great  favorite  in 
the  past  —  number  nine  she  is  on  the  program  to- 
night !  She  's  young  and  alluring  as  ever  —  peren- 
nial she  is ! " 

"  Singer, —  comic,  or  what  ?  "  The  barmaid  dis- 
played most  intelligent  interest. 

Mr.  Rogers  told  her  all  about  Number  Nine  who 
was,  he  said,  a  chanson  or  singer  —  and  did  imita- 
tions. There  were  other  drawing-cards  too,  he 
said,  though  some  of  them  could  only  draw  salaries ! 

Pippin  laughed  at  this. 

"  I  'm  always  on  the  lookout  for  unrecognized 
talent  too — "  Dicky  said,  including  some  other 
patrons  who  stood  near,  in  this  confidence.  "  Take 
the  boy  fiddler  — " 


212  PIPPIN 

Suddenly  applause  sounded  within  The  Royal. 

"  There  y'  are  — "  Dicky  consulted  his  watch, 
"  yes,  she 's  on !  " 

He  emptied  his  glass  at  a  gulp. 

"  She 's  on !  "  he  cried  and  turned  to  numerous  ac- 
quaintances at  the  bar.  "  Don't  miss  Number  Nine, 
gentlemen.  A  new  card.  She  takes  the  tip-top 
macaroon  for  humor  and  pathos.  Come  on !  " 

With  a  dive  he  was  gone  through  the  swinging 
doors.  His  friends  soon  followed,  even  to  the  land- 
lord. His  taste,  in  the  variety  line,  was  a  little 
jaded.  He  was  repeatedly  urged  by  the  friendly 
Mr.  Dicky  to  cater  to  it,  standing-room  gratis, 
within  the  swinging  doors.  Presently  the  bar  was 
deserted.  Pippin  waited  a  second,  slipped  out, 
danced  across  the  floor  and  inserted  her  head  with 
some  risk  between  the  doors.  In  this  way  she  man- 
aged a  view  of  the  stage,  at  the  same  time  a  sub- 
stantial portion  of  her  did  duty  by  the  barroom.  It 
was  not  long  before  she  withdrew  her  head. 

"  I  call  Number  Nine  an  old  stiff,"  she  sniffed  dis- 
gustedly. 

She  did  a  few  steps  herself,  a  light  waltz  over 
the  barroom  floor  took  her  back  behind  the  bar. 
She  was  thinking  of  Miss  Lawrence  who  wanted 
an  engagement  so  badly.  She  began  polishing  the 
beer-pulls  energetically,  keeping  at  them  until  the 
doors  opened  and  some  men  straggled  back.  Mr. 
Rogers  came  breathlessly,  as  though  he  instead  of 


PIPPIN  213 

Number  Nine  had  done  the  turn.  He  bent  to  con- 
gratulatory slaps  on  the  back. 

"  She  's  still  pretty,  if  she  is  a  back  number !  " 

"  Why,  I  remember  her  —  in  her  prime,  way 
back  —  oh,  before  she  married  — " 

Mr.  Rogers  interrupted  the  last  speaker's  reminis- 
cence by  calling  for  drinks  all  round. 

"I  s'y»  Dick  —  how's  the  Earl  of  Clavering? 
He  ought  to  be  pleased  at  what  you  've  unearthed  — 
her  name  '11  draw  — " 

Pippin  stared  over  the  bar. 

The  Earl  of  Clavering?  Did  they  mean  an  earl 
—  a  real  earl  was  about?  Had  they  meant  a  real 
earl  when  speaking  as  she  had  frequently  heard  them 
of  Clavering?  Was  this  Clavering,  with  a  fad  for 
the  play  and  also  for  making  money,  who  was  be- 
hind Dicky  Rogers  and  The  Royal,  was  he  the  Earl 
of  Clavering?  Perhaps,  by  some  miracle  — 

Through  the  doors  came  another,  a  stranger  to 
Pippin.  He  wore  a  monocle,  a  blond  lock  curled 
low  on  his  white  forehead.  He  came  slowly  toward 
the  bar,  twirling  his  waxed  blond  mustachios 
thoughtfully.  There  were  two  stones  of  magnifi- 
cent brilliance,  though  they  might  have  been  even 
larger,  adorning  his  shirt-bosom.  His  gentlemanly 
fingers  scintillated  from  more  than  one  gem. 

Somebody  murmured : 

"The  Earl!" 

"  Ah."     Dicky  Rogers  swung  round. 


214  PIPPIN 

"  I  say,"  his  lordship  drawled,  "  she  was  not  so 
bad." 

"  Lord  Clavering  is  pleased  with  Number  Nine," 
grinned  Dicky. 

"  She  '11  do  better,"  Lord  Clavering  said  hope- 
fully. "  Retirement  is  bad  for  an  artist  —  and  she 
was  nervous ;  she  '11  look  up !  Drinks  for  every- 
body !  "  His  lordship's  eye  fell  on  Pippin,  whom  he 
had  plainly  fascinated.  "  Oh,  ho,"  he  said,  "  now, 
at  last  we  've  a  reason  for  calling  this  bally  hole  The 
Rose  and  Crown !  " 

A  laugh  went  round. 

"  G'  on,"  said  Pippin,  afterward  sadly  recalling 
the  familiarity,  "  but  I  s'y,  I  likes  bein'  a  rose  — 
next  best  to  wearing  a  crown." 

A  louder  laugh  came  from  everybody,  the  loud- 
est was  the  Earl's  guffaw.  He  threw  down  the 
money  for  the  drinks  and  when  she  made  change  he 
held  up  a  jeweled  hand,  rejecting  it.  One  shilling 
and  twopence  went  into  Pippin's  pocket,  "  honest," 
her  heart  thumped  happily,  "  an'  it  '11  go  to  soothe 
old  Sally." 

It  was  a  lordly  tip. 

But  it  was  the  Earl  himself,  who  inspired  her  in- 
terest. She  watched  as  he  took  Mr.  Rogers  aside 
and  they  leaned  together  over  the  bar,  speaking  in 
low  tones.  Joyous,  she  felt  she  had  her  earl,  now 
for  his  knowing  Miss  Lawrence.  He  stood  at  the 
end  near  the  beer-pulls.  Pippin  went  there  to  draw 


PIPPIN  215 

a  mug  of  it.  His  lordship  was  speaking  decidedly. 
It  was  not  of  Number  Nine,  the  "  chanson  or 
singer,"  but  of  the  Httle  play  — "  Miss  Nestor's 
Necklace." 

"  It 's  a  good  little  play, '  Miss  Nestor  '  is  — •  and  I 
know  it !  There  's  money  in  it.  The  money 's  got 
to  be  got  out !  Do  you  fancy  I  'm  going  to  lose 
what  I  've  planked  down  ?  You  can't,  Mr.  Rog- 
ers!" 

"  But,  your  lordship,"  Mr.  Rogers  began  anx- 
iously, "  nobody  short  of  a  real  American  could  get 
that  accent  and  all  quite  so  pat  as  you  seem  to  want 
it,  sir!" 

Pippin  rushed  to  her  customer  with  the  beer  and 
came  back  busying  herself  over  the  beer-pulls,  al- 
ready polished  highly.  The  Earl  still  talked  em- 
phatically. 

"  Maybe  she  is  a  good  actress,  Dick,  but  she  's  a 
cockney  and  it 's  out  when  she  speaks ;  maybe  she  is 
doing  her  best  —  I  don't  say  she 's  not  —  but  I  do 
say,  if  that 's  her  best  I  'm  glad  to  know  it  now. 
Miss  Nestor  is  an  American  girl!  A  slight  accent 
adds  to  the  color,  the  realness  of  the  thing.  I  want 
it  —  not  overdone  of  course,  but  I  want  it ! " 

Pippin  hung  over  the  bar. 

"  I  say,  sir,"  pleaded  Dicky  Rogers,  "  the  thing 's 
billed  to-night  week.  You  wouldn't  oust  this  girl 
at  the  eleventh  hour  and  no  certainty  of  a  better  one, 

would  you,  sir  — ?  " 
14 


216  PIPPIN 

"  I  will  have  a  better  one !  "  the  Earl  of  Clavering 
answered  and  pounded  the  bar  with  his  fist. 

His  rings  gleamed. 

"  I  will,  damme,  I  will !  I  've  put  —  how  much, 
over  a  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  in  this  thing  — 
it 's  got  to  have  a  fair  chance  after  that.  It 's  got 
no  chance  without  the  right  leading  woman,  an 
actress  that  portrays  the  character.  It  wants  one 
with  ginger  —  she  '11  make  the  play  —  an'  she 's  got 
to  be  found." 

"She  is  found!" 

The  low  eager  cry  of  Pippin  startled  the  gentle- 
man. 

"  Ho,"  she  went  on,  in  a  voice  vibrating  with  emo- 
tion, "  I  've  got  one  at  'ome,  sir.  Miss  Leonora 
Lawrence,  a  reely  American,  an'  can't  'elp  it 
though  she  do  try.  Oh,  sir,  if  it's  American  talk 
you  want  —  oh,  your  lordship,  sir  —  dear,  give  'er 
the  chanct ! " 

"  Gal !  "  growled  Mr.  Rogers. 

"  Do  you  mean  you  know  of  an  American 
actress  ?  "  inquired  the  Earl  with  interest. 

"  Do  I  —  I'm  maid  to  one,  a  beautiful  one,  your 
lordship ! "  breathed  Pippin.  "  Yes,  yes,  indeed, 
sir,  and  she  wants  an  engagement,  sir  — " 

"  Fetch  me  a  stout !  "  yelled  Dicky  Rogers. 

The  Earl  shrugged  his  shoulders  in  impatience. 
Pippin  did  not  hurry  to  serve  Mr.  Rogers. 

"  Now,  sir,"  he  murmured  coaxingly  to  his  lord- 


PIPPIN  217 

ship,  "  this  young  lady  is  n't  seen  to  advantage  at 
rehearsals  just  yet;  wait  till  you  see  her  play  the 
part,  wait,  sir !  I  know  her.  You  do  not,  sir, —  if 
I  may  say  so !  " 

The  Earl  turned  thoughtfully  and  sauntered  off 
into  the  theater. 

"  You  've  got  to  keep  your  place,"  Mr.  Rogers 
said,  observing  Pippin's  glance  follow  his  lordship, 
"  else  you  '11  lose  it." 

"  Thank  y',  sir,"  she  replied  absently  with  eyes 
narrowed,  and  a  reckless  unsteadiness  of  hand  that 
slopped  Mr.  Rogers'  stout  wastefully  about. 

She  was  disappointed  in  Mr.  Rogers.  Certainly 
he  was  not  a  true  friend  to  the  Earl  of  Clavering, 
wanting  a  jolly  rotter,  as  the  Earl  had  called  her,  to 
play  Miss  Nestor. 

Pippin  dodged  back  and  forth  behind  the  bar,  giv- 
ing the  greatest  satisfaction  to  everybody  and  sav- 
ing the  bartender  many  steps.  She  was  not  slow  at 
repartee  and  her  answers  to  frequent  sallies  pro- 
vided amusement,  too,  with  the  refreshments  the 
gentlemen  required. 

She  was  wearing  black,  the  custom  for  barmaids. 
The  bodice  fitted  snugly.  It  fastened  like  her  frocks 
in  private  life,  by  a  row  of  buttons  straight  down 
the  front.  A  very  liberal  amount  of  material  in  the 
skirt  lay  in  folds  round  her  hips.  Cuffs  and  collar 
of  white  gave  a  neat  finish  to  the  costume.  A 
lace-edged  white  muslin  bow  was  her  headdress. 


218  PIPPIN 

The  dainty  hands  of  Miss  Lawrence  had  fashioned 
it. 

The  lace-edged  bow  quivered,  the  buttons  moved 
up  and  down  as  she  darted  dutifully  to  and  fro  be- 
hind the  bar.  Her  eyes  were  upon  the  swinging 
doors.  She  craved  another  word  with  the  Earl  of 
Clavering.  He  was  not  only  an  earl  but  the  pro- 
ducer of  "  Miss  Nestor's  Necklace  " !  It  was  a  play 
with  an  American  lady  in  it.  Miracles ! 

But  his  lordship  did  not  come  back  again  and 
neither  did  Mr.  Rogers.  The  barmaid  winked  and 
whispered  to  herself  that  she  was  "  on."  Dicky 
Rogers  was  detaining  the  earl. 

When  at  last  the  bar  closed,  Pippin  set  out  home- 
ward very  hopefully.  The  Earl  was  one  to  have 
what  he  wanted  in  spite  of  Dicky  Rogers.  She 
swung  along  Southampton  Row,  into  Leicester 
Square,  hurried  to  Piccadilly  Circus  and  ran  for  a 
starting  motor-bus.  She  rode,  looking  down  upon 
the  city;  she  loved  it  lamplit,  men  and  women  in 
gala  dress.  She  drew  a  long  breath  from  the  sweet 
dewy  freshness  as  they  skimmed  along  Piccadilly, 
past  St.  James'  Park.  She  heard  the  bleat  of  a 
lamb;  here  and  there  was  a  human  form,  stretched 
at  full  length.  She  knew  what  the  dark  objects 
were  —  sometimes  they  lay  there  by  day  —  and 
wondered  about  these  unfortunate  ones.  Some  of 
them  had  no  doubt  been  to  jail.  She  had  never 
really  felt  in  fear  of  prison,  but  now  thought  of  it 


PIPPIN  219 

sent  a  little  shiver  down  her  back.  She  looked 
ahead,  down  the  lighted  road.  There  were  bumps 
and  stops  in  it  just  as  in  life,  but  one  could  keep  on 
straight,  with  one's  mind  made  up.  And  not  since 
she  became  barmaid  had  she  wanted  to  take  a  drop. 
Sometimes  she  held  the  stuff  tantalizingly  under 
her  nose  —  and  thought  of  Dandy !  First  his  con- 
tempt, then  his  pity,  tenderness,  forgiveness!  It 
was  enough. 

She  left  the  omnibus,  hurried  along  the  little 
court.  Outside  the  door  of  her  room,  Pippin 
stopped  sharply.  Though  it  was  late  at  night, 
voices  sounded  within.  One  voice  above  the  others 
caught  her  ear,  turning  her  cold. 

It  was  the  voice  of  Doll. 

"  She 's  never  told  you  of  knowing  me  then, 
Miss !  'Er  old  friend  Doll  —  an'  the  w'y  I  Ve 
'elped  'er  out  with  that  good-for-nothink  old  dad, 
she 's  got  — " 

The  voice  of  Kitty  chimed  in  weakly,  unintelli- 
gibly. 

"  Doll,  Doll ! "  thumped  in  Pippin's  brain  and 
pounded  out  her  heart-beats.  "Doll  in  there 
squealin'  to  Miss! " 

It  was  the  realization  of  a  long-haunting  fear. 
Flight  was  her  first  impulse,  then  quick  fury  gripped 
her.  She  threw  herself  upon  the  door  and  into  the 
room.  Trembling,  she  faced  them.  To  her  blurred 
vision  the  lovely  one  she  adored  stood  fearfully 


220  PIPPIN 

back  in  the  shadow,  already  pale  from  contamina- 
tion. The  purple,  bedecked  Doll  shadowed  by  Kitty 
moved  forward,  staring. 

"  Cat !  Yer  narsty  cat !  "  It  was  a  low  growl 
from  Pippin. 

"  Whatever 's  up,  Pippin  ?  "  Doll  showed  signs 
of  fright. 

Kitty  behind  her  looked  at  the  door.  They  were 
neither  of  them  brave. 

"  I  feared  you  'd  do  it ! "  Pippin  jerked  out  the 
words.  "  Yes,  I  feared  you  'd  come  in  'ere  an' 
squeal ! " 

"Why  'ow  you  go  on,  Pip,  'ark  at  'er!  What 
does  she  mean  ?  "  wondered  Doll. 

Kitty  crawled  a  few  steps  nearer  the  door.  Pip- 
pin saw  how  seedy  she  looked,  then  with  a  horrible 
pang  of  guilt  recalled  presenting  to  her  the  chate- 
laine that  she  carried. 

"  What  do  I  mean  ?  "  Pippin  cried  and  pointed 
to  Miss  Lawrence.  "  I  mean,  you  bally  bounder, 
you  've  come  'ere  and  squealed  to  'er.  Squealed 
and  lost  me  me  dear  friend,  the  lady  I  loves."  Her 
voice  broke. 

Over  Doll's  blue  lips  flitted  a  smile,  so  goading  to 
Pippin  that  she  lunged  forward,  saw  Doll  fall  back, 
heard  Kitty  scream,  and  at  the  quick  cry  of  her  name 
from  Miss  Lawrence  she  halted,  gripping  her  hands 
in  restraint. 

"  I  don't  care  for  nothink  now  but  scratchin'  yer 


A  scream  and  Pippin  sprang 


PIPPIN  223 

to  pieces,"  she  gasped  out.  "  I  'd  go  to  quod,  die 
there  an'  glad  to  do  it,  though  I  am  turned  honest 
and  str'ight  now  an'  been  living  along  of  a  lady. 
An'  very  well!  What  if  I  was  a  wrong  'un  and 
picked  pockets,  what  about  your  'Arry  and  you  — 
who,  I  asks,  taught  me  the  trick,  who?  Why  don't 
you  answer !  " 

Pippin  tried  to  laugh  suddenly ;  she  turned  to  Miss 
Lawrence  and  pointed  the  visitors  out  to  her. 

"  Now  then  who  taught  me  to  pick  a  pocket ! 
Tell  the  lady  that ! "  she  urged. 

"  'Ow  should  I  know  about  your  evil  w'ys ;  it 's  a 
surprise  to  me,  Pippin."  Doll's  purple  feather 
shook  in  virtuous  indignation.  She  turned  to  the 
silent  form  in  the  shadow  near  the  window. 

"  You  see,  Miss,  she  's  squealed  on  'erself.  I  'rn 
innocent  of  such  doings.  I  'm  sure  /  never  could 
show  'er  'ow  to  do  su'think  I  know  nothink  about  — 
pick  a  pocket!  Kitty — "  she  turned  to  the  frail 
clinging  creature  whose  garments  exhaled  a  con- 
fused fragrance.  "  Kit,  this  is  no  plice  for  us  — 
and  that  pore  young  lady  to  take  up  with  the 
like—" 

A  scream  and  Pippin  sprang,  Doll  dodged  and 
then  with  two  hands  quick,  gentle  and  firm  upon 
her  shoulders,  Pippin  gasped,  weakened  and  sank 
at  Leonora's  feet. 

"  You  'd  better  go  now,"  Leonora  said  quietly. 

"  Well,  rather!  "  agreed  Doll. 


224  PIPPIN 

Kitty  had  reached  the  door.  Leonora  stood  wait- 
ing. 

"  Pity,"  were  Doll's  last  words,  "  but  she  some- 
times takes  spirits.  Good-night,  Miss !  " 

"  Good-night,  Miss,  an'  I  'm  sorry  for  you ! " 
echoed  Kitty. 

"  Good-night,"  returned  Leonora  bravely. 

For  a  time  there  were  only  Pippin's  sobs. 

Out  of  it  all,  this  loathsomeness  and  vice  this  lit- 
tle creature  was  struggling  to  rise.  Looking  back 
to  the  time  of  being  her  victim  Leonora  recalled  it  as 
the  inevitable  downward  slip  in  the  hard  ascent 
the  girl  had  courageously  begun  of  her  own  voli- 
tion. Leonora  had  never  felt  more  pity  and  kind- 
ness toward  her.  Her  own  fear  of  these  creatures 
was  forgotten  in  resentment  of  their  pursuit  of 
Pippin.  She  raised  her  gently. 

"  Just  when  I  'd  got  me  'ands  on  an  earl  and 
everything  tiptop — "  she  wept.  Suddenly  she 
looked  at  Leonora.  "  Now,  you  '11  leave  me !  Oh, 
very  well.  I  quit !  I  quits  trying.  I  '11  turn  a 
trick  that  '11  get  me  took  up.  Then  I  'm  safe 
enough  — " 

"  Hush,"  cried  Leonora ;  "  as  soon  as  possible  you 
will  leave  here.  They  followed  me  from  the  cor- 
ner," the  recollection  seemed  a  little  terrifying.  "  I 
went  out  to  post  a  letter.  It  was  later  than  I 
thought,  but  I  had  taken  time  to  decide  about  send- 
ing the  letter  and  only  got  it  off  late.  They  did 


PIPPIN  225 

not  speak  until  they  came  up  behind  me  here  to  the 
door." 

Pippin's  eyes  were  wide  with  horror. 

"  I  never  like  you  out  late  —  alone  either, 
Miss—" 

"  The  letter  I  posted,"  Leonora  went  on,  "  was  ac- 
cepting a  temporary  engagement  —  position,  per- 
haps I  should  say,  and  in  a  few  days  I  shall  go  away 
to  take  it." 

"  You  're  never  going  off  with  another  extrava- 
cancie,  to  wear — " 

"  No,"  Miss  Lawrence  said.     "  Not  that !  " 

Pippin  waited  but  got  no  further  explanation. 
And  for  the  moment,  forgetting  her  own  trouble, 
she  determined  on  a  direct  appeal  to  the  Earl  —  to 
save  his  play! 

To  reassure  Miss  Lawrence  and  retract  her  own 
desperate  threats  she  began  about  Dandy,  telling  a 
little  of  how  he  had  proved  a  hero. 

"  With  'im  and  you,  Miss,"  she  wanted  to  know, 
"  ave  n't  I  everythink  to  thank  Gawd  for?  " 


CHAPTER  XVI 

ANDY  had  hovered  round  the  barroom 
the  entire  evening,  watching  the  busy 
barmaid.  She  saw  him,  she  raised 
her  dark  eyes  to  his  with  a  frequent 
smile  and  a  little  toss  of  her  head,  but 
this  did  not  satisfy  Dandy.  Yet  he  told  himself 
he  was  a  sensible  chap.  The  girl  had  to  mind  her 
duties. 

Hands  in  his  pockets,  he  paced  the  barroom  to  the 
annoyance  of  more  than  one  patron.  Bustling  in 
for  hurried  refreshment,  gentlemen  found  the  slen- 
der form  an  obstacle  to  progress.  And  Dandy  eyed 
them  as  they  approached  the  bar  with  their  familiar 
greetings  to  Pippin.  How  tactful  she  was  too; 
friendly,  yet  nothing  about  her  was  more  winning 
than  her  reserve. 

Dandy  stepped  up  to  the  bar  and  catching  her  eye 
again,  ordered  a  lemon-squash,  but  the  landlord 
officiously  served  him.  Dandy  sighed  and  stood  by 
while  Pippin  served  a  loud  Yorkshireman  and  an- 
swered brightly  to  his  sallies.  Just  then  two  men 
stopped  near,  talking  in  low  tones,  and  what  they 
said  suddenly  seemed  to  interest  Pippin  beyond  the 
point  of  restraint.  She  watched  them,  bending  her 

226 


The  Photograph 


PIPPIN  229 

ear  to  catch  their  words.  In  one  Dandy  recognized 
the  Earl  of  Clavering,  in  the  other  his  manager,  Dick 
Rogers.  They  were  talking  of  a  play,  it  seemed. 
The  Earl  was  very  earnest.  Dandy  wondered  at 
Pippin's  staring  so.  But  she  stopped  even  nearer 
them,  slyly  deserting  the  Yorkshireman.  This 
brought  her  closer  to  Dandy  who  tried  to  give  her  a 
reproving  look.  Suddenly  she  leaned  forward. 

"  I  've  su'think  most  partic'lar  to  show  your  lord- 
ship —  if  you  please !  " 

Mr.  Rogers  looked  up  angrily,  the  Earl  half 
amused. 

"Yes?  "smiled  he. 

Then  as  Mr.  Dicky  turned  and  walked  away, 
something  flashed  from  her  pocket.  The  Earl  of 
Clavering  fixed  his  monocle  and  Pippin  eagerly, 
earnestly  whispering  to  him,  he  gazed  at  what  she 
held.  Dandy  slipped  a  little  closer.  His  firm  chin 
almost  brushing  the  Earl's  shoulder,  he  peered  over 
it  and  saw  that  his  lordship  regarded  a  photograph, 
of  whom,  Dandy  did  not  know;  a  lady,  it  seemed, 
and  the  Earl  liked  it  too ! 

A  smile  of  surprise,  of  satisfaction  was  on  his 
face. 

Pippin  was  talking  hurriedly,  it  might  have  been  a 
plea  for  some  one's  life.  His  lordship  listened,  nod- 
ding over  the  photograph. 

Dandy  began  pacing  the  floor  again,  exasperated, 
distressed;  wild  notions  beset  him.  The  Earl  gave 


230  PIPPIN 

back  the  photograph  and  turning  away  thoughtfully 
went  back  into  the  theater;  the  barroom  was  quiet 
now  and  Dandy  stepped  up  to  the  bar. 

"  Victoria  Alexandra,"  his  voice  was  hoarse  as  he 
leaned  toward  her. 

"  What  '11  you  'ave  ?  "  Pippin  asked  absently. 

"What '11  I  'ave?"  His  slim  legs  doubled  like 
lemonade  straws,  he  leaned  heavily  on  the  bar. 
"  I  '11  'ave  a  word  with  you!  "  he  said. 

She  stood  before  him  but  her  mind,  her  soul,  it 
seemed,  was  within  the  swinging  doors  of  The 
Royal  with  Lord  Percy,  Earl  of  Clavering.  She 
mopped  the  bar  vigorously. 

"  Victoria  Alexandra,"  Dandy  said  again,  "  re- 
member you  're  only  a  pore  gal  in  real  life  — " 

"  You  've  got  your  cuff  in  the  damp,"  she  pushed 
him  aside. 

"  I  s'y,  dear,"  he  went  on  now  patiently,  "  you 
would  n't  want  to  be  tossed  aside  like  a  toy.  Listen 
to  old  Dandy  as  loves  you !  " 

"  A  toy,"  she  said,  "  who  's  a  toy !  Don't  be  un- 
reasonable, old  chap.  I  'm  thinkin'  of  you  every 
minute,  you  an'  Miss.  Can't  you  see  what  I  'm  do- 
ing —  trying  to  get  my  Miss  Lawrence  the  engige- 
ment  of  leading  lady  in  this  pl'y,  '  Miss  Nestor's 
Necklace'?" 

"  No,"  cried  Dandy  with  relief.  "  Is  that  it  — 
truth  now?  " 

"  Where  's  your  eyes  then  ?  "  Pippin  demanded. 


PIPPIN  231 

"  Did  n't  you  see  the  photo  'is  lordship  was  looking 
at  ?  'E  says  there  's  money  in  the  pl'y  with  the 
right  leading  lady.  Lor'  love  a  duck,  but  it  'd  be 
easy  sailing  for  Miss,  if  old  Mr.  Dicky  'ad  n't  so 
much  to  s'y.  I  fair  'ates  him!" 

"Interferin'  is  he?"  asked  Dandy.  "'E's  not 
got  the  say,  though." 

Before  she  could  answer,  the  Earl  of  Clavering 
came  quickly  back  into  the  barroom.  Dandy  gladly 
slipped  a  few  steps  away. 

"  I  must  say,"  exclaimed  his  lordship,  "  I  'm  aw- 
fully sorry  not  to  have  known  of  Miss  Lawrence 
before!" 

"  But  it 's  not  too  late  yet,  your  lordship,"  cried 
Pippin.  "  I  mean  it 's  not  too  late,  now,  but  it  will 
be,  sir—" 

"  Look  here,  where  could  I  get  her  —  say,  at  a 
moment's  notice  ?  " 

Pippin  turned  her  back,  struggled  briefly  at  the 
row  of  buttons  on  her  bodice  and  quickly  a  slip  of 
paper  was  thrust  into  his  lordship's  hand. 

"  It 's  put  down  there !  "  she  said.  "  Send  to  me 
at  a  moment's  notice,  I  'm  'er  maid.  I  does  for  'er 
at  odd  moments !  Oh,  sir,  do  try  to  manage  it  — 
I  've  such  a  feeling,"  the  feeling  nearly  overcame 
her,  "  if  you  was  to  'ave  Miss  you  'd  never  regret  it, 
sir !  And  if  you  lose  time  like,  you  '11  lose  'er,  for 
she  's  half  made  up  'er  mind  now  to  take  su'think 
she  's  been  offered !  " 


232  PIPPIN 

The  Earl  regarded  her  for  a  moment  solemnly. 

"You're  a  good  little  sort!"  he  said.  "I'm 
sorry  I  can't  promise.  The  time  is  so  jolly  short 
now."  His  lordship  was  harassed. 

Pippin  thrust  her  little  face  close.  "  Dare  I  to 
build  up  'er  hopes?  Yes,  I've  'alf  a  mind  to  tell 
'er,  sir?" 

" Tell  her,"  said  the  Earl.  "I  advise  it!  Just 
state  how  the  matter  stands  and  nothing  more. 
That  would  prepare  Miss  Lawrence  for  the  unex- 
pected, we  might  say." 

"  You  means  the  expected,  don't  you,  sir?  " 

His  lordship  shook  his  head  a  little  regretfully. 

"  I  don't  want  to  fly  in  the  face  of  fate.  If  Miss 
Lawrence  would  n't  do,  either  — " 

"  I  tells  Miss  Lawrence  to-night,"  cried  the  little 
barmaid,  hushing  the  Earl's  doubtful  mutterings. 

"  Ah  then,  here 's  your  lordship !  " 

It  was  Dicky  Rodgers  back  again.  Dandy  came 
up  quickly. 

"  You  've  got  'im !  I  '11  wager  a  quid  it 's  as  good 
as  done  and  your  young  lady  gets  the  chance !  " 

"  Oh,  Dandy,  do  you  think  so  ?  "  she  whispered 
back.  "  'E  is  a  fretty  earl  an'  I  thought  'im  so  de- 
termined too.  What 's  he  'olding  back  for  ?  " 

Dandy  nodded  firmly. 

"'E's  afraid  to  take  the  leap,  but  'e  will  — 
you  '11  see.  You  keep  at  'im !  And  now  s'long, 
dear.  I  've  'ad  no  luck  to-night  — 'ardly  a  word 


PIPPIN  233 

with  you,  but  I  must  be  off.  See  you  to-morrow 
night,  I  'ope !  " 

"  Right-O !  "  sang  out  Pippin. 

She  saw  the  Earl  led  away  by  Mr.  Rogers,  talk- 
ing, gesticulating. 

"  I  trusts  you !  "  whispered  Dandy. 

He  went  out  and  walked  slowly  along  the  street. 
He  was  reluctant  to  leave  her  to-night,  even  at  the 
strong  call  of  duty.  He  had  not  gone  far  when  he 
decided  that  after  all  he  would  stroll  back  leisurely 
just  to  see  if  the  Earl  had  not  been  already  per- 
suaded by  the  irresistible  little  barmaid. 

Pippin,  finding  herself  alone,  thought  of  Dandy. 
She  was  sorry  he  had  gone  now,  there  was  a  chance 
for  them  to  talk.  Then  the  street  door  began  to 
open  slowly  by  an  unseen  hand. 

"  I  knows  yer,  old  chap !  "  she  sang  out.  "  I  was 
'oping  — " 

She  stopped  as  an  insignificant  little  man  popped 
his  head  in,  with  a  sly  look  round.  A  smile  spread 
over  his  crafty  countenance  as  he  saw  the  girl  alone. 
She  stared  at  him  hard,  unsmiling.  He  slid  along 
close  to  the  bar  and  drew  up  before  her. 

"Dad!"  she  gasped. 

"  Yes,  Pippin,  your  pore  old  dad !  I  Ve  had  a 
long  walk.  Quick,  give  us  a  drop  o'  su' think !  " 

"  Dad,"  Pippin  said,  "  where  's  Flossie?  " 

"  Can't  you  give  us  a  drink,  eh  ?  "  he  cried.  "  You 
can't  ?  An'  why  not  give  us  a  drink  ?  " 


234  PIPPIN 

She  looked  at  the  swinging  doors  apprehensively 
as  Dad  Raymond  became  insistent. 

"  They  's  nobody  about,"  he  said.  "  What 's  your 
fright  over  ?  Ain't  I  your  dad  ?  " 

He  slapped  the  counter  with  his  palm. 

"  'Ow  did  you  find  me  ?  You  've  broke  your 
promise !  "  she  reminded  angrily. 

"  Never  you  mind  about  that,"  he  said.  "  And 
I  found  you  simple  enough!  There  is  those  that 
tells  parents  where  their  daughter  is.  You  knows 
your  old  friend  Doll !  " 

"Doll!"  Pippin  said.  "Now  look  'ere,  Dad; 
where  's  your  wife,  where  's  Flossie?  " 

"  You  let  me  in  for  'er,  Pippin."  Dad  Raymond 
clinched  his  fists.  "  I  don't  s'y  yer  did  it  malicious 
but  it  was  your  doin'.  Now  I  wants  yer  to  tike  me 
back  —  or  more  like,  I  '11  tike  you  back.  We  '11  go 
aw'y  from  Flossie.  Ah,  my  dear,  Flossie 's  not 
what  your  mar  was.  What  'd  your  mar  s'y,  Pippin, 
at  the  w'y  I'm  treated?" 

Seeing  the  look  that  for  an  instant  softened  her 
face,  he  pressed  forward. 

"  Think  o'  your  mar,  child,  and  what  'd  she  s'y 
at  me  'aving  to  work  so,  for  another  woman ! " 

"  She 's  your  wife,  now,  Dad,  Flossie  is !  "  Pip- 
pin drew  away  from  him.  "  An'  where 's  your 
false  tooth  ? "  she  asked  sharply.  "  There 's  a 
narsty  gap  without  it.  Has  Flossie  seen  you  so  ?  " 

He  dropped  a  few  emphatic  oaths.     "  Where  's 


'Dandy !"  .  .  .  "It's  me  dad ! 


PIPPIN  237 

me  tooth  ?  "  he  mocked.  "  Well,  Solomon 's  got  it. 
There!" 

She  leaned  over  the  bar  suddenly. 

"  You  must  get  out  of  'ere,  but  first  listen !  You 
s'y  I  did  right  by  you  after  pore  mar  died,  but,  Dad, 
what  I  was  doing  for  you  was  wrong.  You  know 
it  —  none  better.  It  will  never  be  that  way  again !  " 

His  head  sank  between  his  shoulders,  his  eyes 
snapping  turtle-like  ai.d  angry. 

"  The  King  of  England  on  'is  throne  couldn't  a 
mide  me  believe  me  own  daughter — " 

He  dived,  caught  her  wrists  and  pinning  them 
down  upon  the  bar  raised  his  voice. 

"  You  've  turned  against  me  an'  I  '11  not  stand  for 
it.  I  've  been  told  not  to  stand  for  it.  I  'm  not  the 
only  one  you  've  turned  against !  " 

She  struggled. 

"Call  for  'elp,"  he  taunted.  "Call  out,  then, 
we  shan't  be  long.  Ain't  I  your  dad  ?  " 

She  saw  the  street  door  open,  welcomed  the  quick 
light  rush  of  steps  unheeded  by  Dad  Raymond. 
Long,  strong  fingers  closed  upon  his  throat,  bent 
him  backward,  down,  down  to  a  sickening  heap  upon 
the  floor. 

"  Dandy !  "  Pippin  breathed.     "  It 's  me  dad !  " 

"  Ah !  "  Dandy  growled  with  satisfaction.     His 

foot  turned  the  groveling  form  over,  he  gazed  upon 

the  face  of  Dad  Raymond  earnestly,  then  seized 

him  by  the  collar  and  another  quick  application  of 

is 


238  PIPPIN 

boot-toe  at  once  strengthened  Dad  Raymond's  legs 
and  restored  his  vision.  Gripping  his  neck,  Dandy 
dragged  him  to  the  street.  Quickly  a  woman,  a 
neat,  full-figured,  pleasant-faced  person  stepped  up 
and  placed  her  hand  possessively  upon  the  struggling 
Mr.  Raymond's  shoulder.  He  gave  a  sharp,  fear- 
ful look  at  her  and  wriggled. 

"  It 's  you,  me  dear ! " 

"  In  there  creatin'  a  disturbance  I  see."  The  lady 
addressed  Dandy. 

"  In  there  attemptin'  to  intimidate  'is  daughter, 
barmaid  o'  The  Rose  and  Crown  and  engiged  to 
me !  "  replied  Dandy. 

He  raised  his  hat  gallantly,  at  the  same  time  keep- 
ing his  hold  of  Mr.  Raymond. 

"  Well,  I  'm  'is  Missus,"  the  woman  said. 

Emphasizing  her  right,  Mrs.  Raymond  tugged  at 
Raymond's  arm.  Then  she  whisked  off  his  cap  and 
ordered  him  to  pick  it  up  and  replace  it  properly. 
His  daughter  just  then  peeked  from  the  door  of  The 
Rose  and  Crown. 

"  Ah,"  smiled  Flossie,  "  you  pore  gal,  you.  I  've 
misjudged  you  cruel !  I  've  wanted  to  tell  you  so, 
too.  I  know  your  father  better  now.  I  've  traced 
him  in  a  very  roundabout  w'y  to-night !  I  told  'im 
he  'd  drive  you  to  desperation."  She  spoke  rapidly. 
"  I  've  done  my  best  for  'im !  All  I  asks  is  that  he 
work  a  part  of  the  d'y.  I  can't  keep  'im  entire,  nor 


PIPPIN  239 

I  should  n't  if  I  could,  for  I  Ve  too  much  self-re- 
spect" 

Dragging  Dad  Raymond,  and  thus  Dandy  who 
still  clutched  him,  she  stepped  nearer  the  doorway, 
speaking  confidentially. 

"  I  Ve  got  'im  job  after  job  an'  he  throws  'em  up, 
one  after  the  other."  She  paused  looking  from  the 
girl  to  Dandy.  "  Go  back  to  your  work,  gal ! 
Odd,"  she  mused,  "  'ow  a  few  sweet  words,  smiles 
an'  a  fancy  wais'coat  can  fool  a  silly  woman."  She 
studied  the  object  of  her  past  infatuation. 

"'Aven't  you  got  any  shame?"  she  inquired. 
She  seemed  hoping  for  a  glimmer  of  self-respect  to 
appear.  "  I  'd  be  pleased  you  should  come  to  tea 
and  fetch  the  young  man,"  she  told  Pippin  and 
smiled  with  her  noted  charm  at  Dandy.  "  I  mike 
Sund'y  me  day  at  home.  I  don't  allow  'im  to  down 
me  respectable  'abits !  " 

Dandy  released  Mr.  Raymond  and  bowed. 

"Thank  you!"  Pippin  returned.  "We  will 
come ! " 

She  looked  with  true  sympathy  at  the  late  widow, 
Flossie  Fullerton,  now  Mrs.  Ronald  Raymond. 

"  Go  back  to  your  work,  child ! "  Flossie  said 
kindly.  Then  she  turned  Dad  Raymond  about  and 
released  him. 

Facing  Dandy  he  bowed,  shyly. 

"  Pleased  to  meet  yer,"  he  said. 


240  PIPPIN 

"  'Ope  to  see  you  ag'in,  Mr.  R.,"  Dandy  returned, 
with  meaning. 

"  Thank  y',  sir,"  Mr.  Raymond  replied. 

He  straightened  to  a  more  dignified  manner,  and 
turned  to  Mrs.  Raymond,  smiling  indulgently;  then 
he  nodded  to  his  daughter  and  moved  on.  A  little 
further  along  he  had  assumed  an  attitude  of  gal- 
lantry. It  gave  a  glimpse  of  what  had  won  his 
bride.  He  was  guiding  her  rather  than  being 
forced  homeward  by  her. 

"  'E  's  in  good  'ands ! "  Pippin  sighed. 

"  'E 's  in  the  best  of  'ands,"  agreed  Dandy,  "  an' 
he  's  off  yours,  dear  —  s'long  again !  "  Dandy  hur- 
ried away  and  Pippin  went  quickly  back  to  her  work. 

Dandy  reached  home  with  his  mind  made  up  to 
speak  to  his  master  of  Pippin.  The  time  was  not 
now  so  far  off  he  hoped,  when  she  would  become 
Mrs.  Daniel  Thorns  —  his  little  missus.  He  felt 
she  needed  him. 


CHAPTER  XVII 

|OU  know,  Miss,  the  good  luck  might 
come  to-d'y  —  this  very  mornin', 
even,"  Pippin  said  as  she  broke  a  soft- 
boiled  egg  into  a  glass,  the  way  she 
had  found  Americans  like  their  eggs. 
"You  remember  I  told  you  'is  lordship  said,  you 
was  to  be  prepared  for  the  expected  like !  You  '11 
not  stop  out  too  long  just  in  case  it  should  come  — • 
it  would  be  so  unexpected  to-d'y  —  so  unexpected  I 
most  fancy  perhaps  it  will  come." 

As  she  poured  the  tea  and  placed  a  chair  for  Miss 
Lawrence,  she  snatched  a  look  at  her  pale  face. 
Miss  Lawrence  was  pinning  on  her  hat. 

"  It  would  never  do  to  stay  in,  hoping  for  what 
you  don't  expect,  Pippin,"  she  said,  laughing,  but  a 
little  anxiously.  "  And  you  see  this  other  thing  that 
I  told  you  about  —  well,  I  'm  not  terribly  pleased 
with  it.  Really  I  'm  not  suited  to  such  a  position, 
so  in  the  next  two  days,  before  I  am  to  go  away  and 
begin  it,  I  must  look  harder  than  ever  for  something 
—  in  my  own  profession." 

Leonora  sat  down  to  breakfast,  Pippin  waiting  on 
her  solicitously. 

241 


242  PIPPIN 

"  Whatever  is  it,  Miss  'as  got  'erself  engiged  to?  " 
she  pondered. 

But  she  did  not  ask. 

There  came  a  diffident  knock. 

"It's  me  — Sally  Taylor!" 

Pippin  patiently  admitted  the  caller. 

"  How  are  you,  Sally  ?  "  she  greeted ;  "  this  is 
a  surprise ! "  Quickly  she  drew  some  silver  from 
her  pocket,  but  Sally  did  not  seem  to  notice. 

"  Mother,"  she  said,  "  'as  made  off.  She 's  run 
away ! " 

Miss  Lawrence  rose  from  her  chair ;  she  and  Pip- 
pin exchanging  glances  of  astonishment. 

"  You  're  surprised !  "  Sally  said.  "  Well,  who 
would  n't  be !  This  is  what  she 's  done  —  she 
wrote  me  a  nasty  meaning  letter.  Still  I  deter- 
mined not  to  get  annoyed,  Mother's  'ad  her  little 
lot  o'  trouble  one  way  and  another,  and  so  I  comes 
up  to  town  at  some  expense  this  morning  to  find 
out  just  what  ails  her  an'  to  'elp  her  out.  I  come 
and  find  her  gone.  She 's  got  her  good  clothes  and 
left  her  old  ones  and  gone !  Gone  with  a  man,  I  'm 
certain  of  it ! " 

"  And  what  of  that  ?  "  demanded  Pippin.  "  Why 
should  n't  she  go  with  a  man  ?  " 

Sally  Taylor's  cheek  flushed  angrily. 

"  Indeed !  Now  look  here.  I  come  up  to  Lon- 
don in  good  faith  to  change  places  with  Mother  and 
give  her  a  holiday  in  the  country.  I  come  to  find 


PIPPIN  243 

out  what  she  's  doing  with  her  money  and  to  give 
her  some  sensible  advice."  Sally  paused.  "  I 
come  too  late ! " 

"  Ho,  s'y  rather  you  've  come  just  in  the  nick  o' 
time,"  cried  Pippin.  "If  you  'ad  n't  come,  the  plice 
as  caretaker  'ere  might  a-been  filled  by  another  and 
so  lorst  to  your  family.  This  is  a  bit  o'  luck!  " 

She  held  out  the  money  again. 

"I'd  intended  sendin'  it  to  you,  Sally,  just  on 
account  like.  'Ow  's  me  little  nipper?  " 

Sally's  face  softened. 

"  Much  as  ever  I  'd  heart  to  leave  him,"  she  said. 
"  He  wanted  to  see  you,  but  he  's  half -fare  and  be- 
sides he  's  lessons  every  day  with  me  husband  and 
the  other  fellows.  He  '11  make  a  man,  the  little 
chap  will ! " 

"Oh,  Sally,"  Pippin  cried.  "You  'ave  been 
good  to  take  'im  to  your  'eart  so.  I  '11  never  forget 
you!" 

"  It 's  awright,"  smiled  Sally. 

"  I  've  a  berth  now ;  barmaid,  The  Rose  and 
Crown,  and  I  '11  soon  begin  to  pay  you  regular ! " 

"  I  'm  glad  of  that!  "  Sally  admitted. 

"  Now  then,  you  stop  'ere  like  a  lamb  and  mind 
your  mother's  place  since  the  boys  are  in  good  'ands 
along  of  your  Mr.  Taylor,"  Pippin  urged. 

"  They  's  nothing  else  for  it,"  agreed  Sally ;  "  but 
where 's  she  gone  ?  " 

"On  a  weddin'  journey,"  replied  Pippin.     "I 


244  PIPPIN 

can  see  'er  courage  failed  'er  about  telling  you  and 
she 's  made  off.  It 's  a  mistake,  you  see,  Sally, 
keepin'  your  mother  under  so." 

She  took  some  more  silver  from  her  pocket  and 
handed  it  to  Sally. 

"  It 's  our  week's  rent,"  she  said,  glancing  at  Leo- 
nora. She  had  been  wishing  for  a  delicate  way  to 
make  it  known  she  had  it.  "  We  're  not  in  ad- 
vance," she  explained,  "  but  Miss  Lawrence  don't 
'old  with  p'ying  in  advance !  And  it 's  well  to  be 
polite  to  the  agent.  You  've  a  very  severe  manner, 
Sally/' 

Sally  did  not  answer.  She  seemed  very  much 
downcast. 

"  Buck  up,"  chirped  Pippin ;  "  after  all,  it  is  a 
weddin'  and  not  a  funeral.  Love — "  she  mused 
sentimentally. 

"  Love ! "  jeered  Sally  Taylor,  "  at  Mother's  time 
of  life!" 

"Why  not?"  Pippin  demanded.  "I  think  it's 
sweet  all  along  o'  life  an'  I'm  sure  the  cobbler  'as 
good  qualities,  too ! " 

"Cobbler?" 

Pippin  ignored  this  to  hurry  on. 

"  My  dad  went  up  to  'is  ears  in  love  of  a  widow. 
I  did  n't  make  a  row.  'E  married  'er  too !  'E  's  in 
very  good  hands ! " 

The  unusual  sound  of  wheels  clattering  into  the 
narrow  little  court  startled  them  all. 


PIPPIN  245 

Miss  Lawrence  and  Pippin  hurried  to  the  window. 

"  Lor'  lummy,  it 's  a  'ansom-cab !  A  cab  in  the 
Court!" 

"  Might  be  it 's  Mother  and  the  creature  she 's 
took  up  with ! "  Sally  dashed  into  the  hall  and 
down  the  stairs  to  receive  the  couple  warmly. 

But  after  her  tore  Pippin.  The  single  occupant 
of  the  hansom,  a  man,  stepped  to  the  pavement  as 
she  reached  the  street. 

"  I  'm  looking  for  a  young  person  named  Ray- 
mond." He  paused  to  consult  a  card. 

"  Who  wants  me  ?  "  demanded  Pippin  with  ad- 
mirable calmness. 

"  The  Earl  of  Clavering  sends  a  message.  Are 
you  the  gal  ?  " 

Without  further  ceremony,  Pippin  took  the  card 
from  the  man's  hand  and  read  aloud  the  message  it 
bore. 

Can  you  reach  the  young  lady  whom  you  spoke  of 
and  bring  'er  to  me  at  once  ? 

"  Wait !  "     With  one  word  she  was  gone. 

Leonora  stood,  expectant,  in  the  center  of  the 
room  when  Pippin  reached  it. 

"  Miss,  oh,  Miss  Lawrence,  Ytruth,  'is  lordship 
wants  you !  'Eaven  send  us  stren'th  and  look  sharp, 
if  you  please."  She  thrust  the  written  message  be- 
fore Leonora. 

"  Pippin  ...  a  real  sure-enough  call  to  arms ! " 


246  PIPPIN 

They  looked  at  each  other.  Leonora  rushed  to 
the  door  and  out. 

"  Blow-me-tight ! "  cried  the  practical  Pippin, 
hurrying  after;  "  you  Ve  not  had  your  egg,  Miss! " 

The  waiting  messenger  touched  his  cap,  and  in- 
dicated the  cab,  as  the  eager  lady  rushed  up  to  him. 
He  assisted  her  to  enter  and  permitted  himself  to 
be  brushed  aside  that  Pippin  might  do  the  same. 

"  To  the  Royal  Theater  of  Varieties !  "  came  her 
order  in  clarion  tone  and  she  added  to  the  gaping 
Sally,  "  We  can't  keep  the  Earl  of  Clavering  wait- 
ing, old  gal ! " 

They  drove  out  of  the  Court  to  the  merriest  notes 
the  flutist  had  ever  practised.  A  gay,  glad  trill  fol- 
lowed them. 

Only  once  during  the  ride  did  Pippin  speak. 

"  'Ow  long,  Miss,  do  it  take  a  letter  to  get  to 
America ;  to  Goshen  where  you  come  from  ?  " 

"  About  eight  days,"  Leonora  answered. 

The  cab  drew  up  at  the  Royal  Theater  of  Varie- 
ties and,  closely  following,  drove  the  messenger 
they  had  left  behind.  He  sprang  to  the  pavement, 
entered  the  Royal  and  with  marvelous  promptness 
came  out  again,  followed  by  the  Earl  of  Clavering. 

" 'Im"  whispered  Pippin,  leaping  from  the  han- 
som and  beckoning  to  his  lordship.  "  'Ere  she  is, 
sir  — 'ere  's  Miss  Lawrence,  your  lordship." 

The  Earl  smiled  with  evident  satisfaction  as  his 
eager  eyes  lighted  on  Miss  Lawrence.  He  mur- 


PIPPIN  247 

mured  her  name  and  hurried  to  extend  his  own 
white  hand,  with,  Pippin  saw  in  dismay,  not  a  jewel 
upon  it  this  morning.  He  gravely  assisted  the 
young  lady  to  alight. 

"  This  is  very  fortunate,"  he  told  her,  "  most  for- 
tunate indeed ! " 

"  Ain't  it  rum  ?  "  agreed  Pippin  in  a  polite  aside. 

"Very  unprofessional  thing  occurred  this  morn- 
ing," he  hurried  on,  " — but  maybe  a  good  thing, 
too, —  the  lady  rehearsing  Miss  Nestor,  threw  up 
the  part !  "  He  threw  out  his  hands  lightly.  "  You 
see  she  could  not  get  the  hang  of  the  thing  —  no 
idea  of  the  character,  no  go  —  nothing!  No  doubt 
I  kept  on  at  her  to  an  harassing  degree,  but  I  'm 
backing  the  play,  must  have  it  right !  Miss  Nestor 
is  the  whole  thing  —  are  you  a  quick  study,  Miss 
Lawrence?  " 

He  looked  at  her  anxiously. 

"Yes,"  Leonora  answered  reassuringly. 

Her  look,  her  voice  and  quiet  manner  inspired  the 
anxious  earl  with  confidence.  His  brow  seemed  to 
clear. 

Miss  Lawrence  started  toward  the  theater  in  a 
very  business-like  manner.  His  lordship  hurried 
along  beside  her  as  they  went  in  talking,  at  least  his 
lordship  talked.  Miss  Lawrence  had  the  look  of 
one  quite  determined  to  do  or  die.  Pippin  climbed 
into  the  hansom,  sank  back  in  the  seat,  sighing  with 
the  joy  of  greatest  achievement.  The  persistent 


248  PIPPIN 

appeal  of  the  cabby  peering  through  the  top  at  last 
roused  her. 

"  Where  do  you  wish  to  go,  I  'm  asking  you, 
loidy?  I  've  just  'ad  orders  to  tike  you  back  to  Ju- 
bilee Court,  if  you  s'y  so! " 

Pippin  looked  out  and  the  man  who  had  come 
for  her  nodded,  from  the  pavement.  He  then  had 
issued  the  orders  to  take  her  home. 

"  Very  well !  "  she  answered.  "  I  '11  simply  'ave 
to  be  back  'ere  soon,  but  I  '11  go  'ome  now  —  I  likes 
a  'ansom ! " 

The  cab  started  and  she  gave  herself  up  to  the 
pleasure  of  the  drive.  She  thought  of  Dandy  and 
of  little  Hal  and  wished  they  were  with  her.  It  was 
a  very  warm  morning.  She  folded  her  arms  upon 
her  breast  and  looked  out  lazily. 

For  a  long  time  she  thought  of  Miss  Lawrence 
and  the  play.  What  a  wonderful  thing  she  had  ac- 
tually done  for  her  young  lady.  She  had  never  felt 
so  happy  over  anything  in  her  life.  Presently  she 
began  fancying  herself  a  lady  and  the  cab  a  private 
brougham.  She  thought  of  what  she  would  buy  if 
she  had  as  much  money  as  ladies  sometimes  have. 
A  spotted  veil,  she  decided  on  at  once;  some  long, 
brilliant  studded  hat-pins  and  a  rustling,  pink  silk 
petticoat,  long  black  glace  kid  gloves.  But  her 
mind  went  back  to  Miss  Lawrence  and  the  Earl.  It 
lingered  upon  them.  Finally  a  romantic  vision  of 
the  handsome  couple  came  to  her.  Lilies  of  the 


PIPPIN  249 

valley,  white  satin  and  lace  made  the  background,  a 
slender  circlet  of  diamonds  rested  upon  the  fair  coils 
of  Miss  Lawrence's  hair. 

Why  had  she  written  that  letter  to  Goshen,  Indi- 
ana? She  had  acted  hastily  there.  Still  Goshen 
was  a  long  way  off  and  the  letter  might  easily  be 
lost,  going  so  far. 

The  cab  turned  into  King's  Road.  A  little  way 
along  there  was  a  crowd  on  the  pavement  and  the 
cabby  reined  in,  with  leisurely  curiosity.  Pippin 
looked. 

A  stocky,  close-cropped  young  man  with  a  bruise 
under  one  eye  trembled  in  the  grip  of  the  officer 
who  handcuffed  him.  It  was  Doll's  Harry.  Pip- 
pin fell  back,  yet  again  she  looked.  Harry  had  just 
finished  quod,  not  a  six  months.  This  would  set 
Doll  going  —  it  would  mean  another  heart  attack. 
She  cared  about  Harry.  Pippin  leaned  forward,  in- 
stinctive sympathy  moving  her.  Cringing,  seeking 
compassion  from  some  one  in  the  curious  crowd, 
Harry's  clever,  rat-like,  but  now  terrified  face 
turned  from  one  to  another,  uselessly  of  course,  and 
then  he  saw  Pippin.  For  one  fearful  instant  she 
waited  for  him  to  proclaim  their  acquaintance.  His 
look  changed  from  seeking  to  hostile  hate.  He 
snarled  and  lurched  ahead  as  the  officer  plunged 
through  the  crowd.  But  along  the  pavement  above 
other  heads,  came  bobbing  a  purple  feather,  waved 
wildly  among  them,  and  a  woman  who  was  Doll, 


250  PIPPIN 

screamingly  calling  upon  the  goodness  of  God  to 
save  her  Harry,  fell  upon  him,  seized  at  the  mana- 
cled hands,  bent  her  face  and  gnashing  teeth  to 
them,  gasped  and  sank  at  his  feet  to  the  pavement. 

The  crowd  fell  back. 

Pippin  rose  in  the  cab;  her  two  hands  gripped  in 
a  sort  of  benediction,  as  she  looked ;  Doll's  blue  lips 
were  parted,  her  half -closed  lids  showed  a  rim  of 
staring  white,  her  head  lay  still,  pillowed  in  untidy 
hair  and  dingy  purple  finery.  Harry  bent,  looked, 
drew  back,  shaking. 

"  Curse  yer,"  he  whined,  savagely  struggling  with 
the  policeman,  "  now  look  what  you  Ve  done  by 
your  injustice !  She  's  — " 

Pippin  silently  stole  from  the  cab  on  the  other 
side  and  hurried  away. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 


OR  several  days  Dandy's  master,  Mr. 
Bertram   Granville,   had  been   in  an 
agreeable  mood,  his  nerves  steady,  his 
mind  tranquil,  though  full  of  the  new 
play  he  was  writing. 
"  'Ow  was  your  lordship's  sole,  this  morning,  if 
you  please,  sir  ?  "  Dandy  asked,  happily  marking,  as 
he  took  away  Mr.  Granville' s  breakfast  tray,  that 
only  the  bone  of  the  sole  remained. 

"  Perfect,  thank  you,  Dan,"  the  master  answered, 
rubbing  the  top  of  his  head  where  Dandy  reported 
new  hair  coming  in ;  "  there  was  a  touch  of  heaviness 
to  the  toast,  perhaps." 

"  Thank  you,  sir.  It  won't  occur  again,  I  '11  look 
out  for  that ! "  Dandy  balanced  the  tray  on  one 
hand  and  with  the  other  pinched  a  piece  of  toast  that 
was  left  there.  "  S'truth  it  is !  "  he  said.  "  Jack- 
son shall  'ear  of  it !  " 

He  took  the  tray  out  and  then  came  back.  Mov- 
ing about  very  quietly  and  with  the  most  lightly 
buoyant  step,  he  made  everything  ready  for  Mr. 
Granville  to  start  in  at  his  writing.  Mr.  Granville 
himself  kept  the  key  to  the  drawers  that  contained 

251 


252  PIPPIN 

his  manuscripts,  so  he  rose  from  the  chair  by  the 
window,  where  he  liked  to  breakfast,  unlocked  the 
top  drawer  of  a  big  chest  and  took  out  the  sheets  of 
his  new  play.  He  carried  them  to  the  table. 

Dandy  was  watching  his  master  very  closely  this 
morning,  awaiting  opportunity.  And  Mr.  Granville 
showed  evidence  of  being  in  one  of  his  pleasantly 
gossipy  humors ;  he  did  not  at  once  begin  to  write, 
this  sign  being  the  one  upon  which  Dandy  always 
departed  quickly,  to  keep  silence  without. 

"  How  's  Tidberry's  young  one?  "  the  playwright 
asked,  lighting  his  pipe. 

"  Gone,  sir !  "  Dandy  answered. 

Mr.  Granville  flinched  slightly. 

"  Dead,  do  you  say,  Dan  ?  " 

"  Yes,  your  lordship,  last  midnight.  Same  hour 
it  came,  sir,  about  five  weeks  ago  —  it  was  always 
ailing,  Tidberry  said.'* 

Mr.  Granville  was  very  sensitive  to  the  troubles 
of  others.  He  stood  looking  solemnly  at  the  floor. 

"  I  should  n't  'ave  told  you,  sir.  I  'ope  you  're 
not  upset.  They  Ve  eight  more,  sir.  Tidberry  is 
bearing  up  well ;  they  're  not  really  shocked,  not  tre- 
mendously so,  sir,"  Dandy  said. 

"  We  don't  owe  him  anything,  Dan  ?  " 

"  Not  it !  "  said  Dandy.  "  'E  was  all  paid  up  out 
of  the  windfall,  sir." 

Mr.  Granville  nodded.  He  rubbed  the  top  of  his 
head. 


PIPPIN  253 

"  'E  's  that  proud,  too,  sir,  over  what  'e  's  done 
for  your  'air,  Tidberry  is  —  there 's  no  joy  without 
some  sorrow,  in  course ! "  Dandy  went  on. 

His  master  smiled  a  little  as  he  tied  tighter  the 
cord  of  his  flowered  silk  dressing-gown. 

"  'E  'opes  to  mike  a  Court  'air  dresser  of  'imself 
as  a  result  of  your  'air's  growing  in  so,  sir ! " 

Mr.  Granville  nodded  thoughtfully  and  sat  down 
at  the  table. 

"  We  're  hardly  anything  in  debt,  are  we,  Dan  ?  " 
he  asked,  toying  with  a  quill. 

"  The  windfall  put  us  on  our  feet,  you  remember, 
sir!  Anythink  owing  now  can  stand  for  a  six 
mont's  simple  enough  —  our  few  debts  are  all  big 
'uns  and  understood  by  the  creditors,  they  being  ac- 
customed to  dealing  with  gentlemen." 

Mr.  Granville  tapped  the  manuscript  of  his  new 
play  with  the  quill  pen  and  said  calmly: 

"  This  is  as  good  as  taken !  I  've  written  this 
play  to  order  though  I  never  should  have  thought  I 
could!" 

"  No !  "  cried  the  astounded  gentleman-in-waiting. 

"  I  could  n't  be  sure  when  I  began  it.  I  was  n't 
even  sure  until  last  night  —  that  it  was  right.  I 
can't  usually  take  other  people's  ideas,  y'  know,  but 
I  have  and  I  've  carried  'em  out !  " 

Dandy  waited.  Every  now  and  then  Mr.  Gran- 
ville explained  things  to  him.  Sometimes  he  told 
him  nothing  for  weeks  and  weeks. 

16 


254  PIPPIN 

"  That  jolly  old  fat-head  manager,  Hamilton, 
had  an  idea  and  at  first  I  could  n't  see  it  —  after- 
ward I  did.  It  grew  on  me ;  it  seemed  good.  I  've 
swot  away  —  I  've  carried  it  out."  He  waved  his 
hand  lightly.  "  It 's  all  but  done.  The  finishing  is 
that  simple  — "  he  rose  and  blew  some  smoke  from 
his  pipe  out  over  the  room,  "  it 's  a  cat  and  mouse 
thing,  the  finishing,  I  'm  just  holding  off."  He 
thought  a  minute  and  put  down  his  pipe.  "  I  be- 
lieve I  '11  lock  it  up  again,"  he  said,  eying  the  man- 
uscript. "I'll  hold  off  finishing  till  night  — I'll 
dress  now  and  go  for  a  canter  in  the  park,  Dan !  " 

"Right!"  agreed  Dandy;  "it'll  do  you  good, 
sir." 

Dandy  opened  the  drawer  and  his  master  took  up 
the  play  and  locked  it  lovingly  away.  Then  he 
walked  to  the  window  where  he  stood  looking  out. 
A  light  cough  from  Dandy  caused  him  to  turn. 

"  What 's  on  your  mind,  Dan  ?  " 

"  I  've  been  wanting  to  tell  you,  I  'm  getting  mar- 
ried soon,  sir,  if  you  please!  "  said  the  gentleman-in- 
waiting. 

Mr.  Granville  started. 

"Dan— "he  said. 

He  stood  looking  at  Dandy  for  some  time. 
There  before  him  stood  little  Dan,  grown  into  a  tall 
young  man,  without  his  master  ever  having  realized 
it.  And  he  had  announced  that  he  was  getting  mar- 
ried. 


PIPPIN  255 

"  I  've  been  waiting  these  several  days  to  tell  you, 
sir,"  Dandy  said. 

"  Well,  well,  well !  "  said  the  playwright  wonder- 
ingly.  "By  gad!" 

"  Yes,  your  lordship !  " 

There  was  another  interval  of  silence  then  Mr. 
Granville  asked: 

"  Dan,  did  you  pay  yourself  out  of  the  wind- 
fall?" 

"  Yes,  your  lordship !  " 

"  When  are  you  to  be  married?  " 

"  As  soon  as  ever  she  will  consent,  sir.  I  'ope  to 
bring  it  about  within  the  month,"  Dandy  answered 
with  a  hopeful  smile. 

"  Dan,"  his  master  said  solemnly,  "  take  a  month's 
notice ;  you  're  discharged  — " 

"Your  lordship!" 

"  My  boy,  you  can't  afford  to  keep  on  for  me  if 
you  're  to  take  a  wife.  Alone,  we  shifted,  but  your 
wife  would  n't  put  up  with  that !  " 

"  I  '11  not  leave  you,  sir,"  said  Dandy  quietly. 
"Not  if  that's  all  the  reason;  not  so  long  as  me 
services  is  satisfactory  to  you.  She  would  n't  'ear 
of  it.  She  knows  all  about  you,  sir  —  understands 
you  exactly.  In  fact,"  continued  the  gentleman-in- 
waiting,  "  she  'd  'elp  us.  You  'd  like  'aving  'er  'ere. 
She  's  very  'andy  and  full  of  saving  ideas !  She  's 
that  neat  and  quiet  in  manners,  too  —  Oh,  sir,  she  'd 
never  'ave  me,  if  she  thought  she  'd  come  between 


256  PIPPIN 

us !  You  're  putting  an  obstacle  before  me,  sir  — 
she  'd  never  come  between  us !  "  repeated  Dandy. 

The  playwright  looked  very  serious,  as  he  stood 
thinking. 

"  I  'ope  I  'm  not  vexing  you,  sir !  " 

"  You  are,  indeed !  But  I  won't  think  of  myself; 
I  am  thinking  what  is  best  for  you,  Dan,"  answered 
his  master. 

He  could  hardly  think  of  himself  without  Dandy. 

"  It 's  'ere,  sir,"  continued  Dandy.  "  She  's  bar- 
maid now  at  The  Rose  and  Crown.  I  don't  like  it 
It 's  too  public  — " 

Mr.  Granville  looked  up. 

"  Oh,  she 's  awright,  sir,  a  sensible  gal  enough 
and  keeps  'er  plice !  "  said  Dandy. 

"  But  you  want  to  get  married,"  his  master 
mused. 

"  Yes,  your  lordship,  if  you  please,  sir,  I  think 
it  'd  be  as  well  not  to  put  it  off  as  I  sees  no  reason 
meself  for  doing  so,  sir!  " 

"  Are  you  sure  she  's  the  right  one ;  sure  you  are 
ready  to  settle  down  for  life  —  you  are  young  — 
for  life,  Dan?" 

A  tender  smile  of  certainty  lit  the  youthful  face 
of  the  gentleman-in- waiting. 

"  I  s'y,  sir,  would  it  be  too  much  to  ask  your  lord- 
ship, as  she  's  maybe  to  enter  your  service  in  a  way, 
like  —  would  it  be  too  much  for  you  to  drop  in  at 
The  Rose  and  Crown  —  and  see  'er?  —  next  door 


PIPPIN  257 

The  Royal  Theater  of  Varieties,  it  is,  sir  —  High 
Holborn?" 

The  playwright  shook  his  head.  "  I  'm  too 
busy!" 

"  I  very  much  wish  you  to  see  'er,  sir !  "  begged 
Dandy. 

"  Very  well !  "  agreed  Mr.  Granville. 

Dandy  heaved  a  sigh,  a  sigh  of  certainty  that  all 
would  be  well  when  his  master  saw  Pippin. 

"  You  said  you  would  dress  for  riding,  did  n't 
you,  sir  ?  "  Dandy  said,  bringing  his  mind  back  to 
his  duties. 

But  his  master  was  still  thinking. 

"  It 's  a  rum  way  to  treat  me,  Dan.  There 's 
nothing  for  it  but  that  old  house  out  near  Waling- 
ford,  if  you  've  got  to  go  and  get  attached.  I 
thought  you  considered  me  a  little.  I  '11  have  to 
give  up  these  rooms  and  settle  down  there  —  or  give 
you  up !  "  he  threatened  savagely. 

After  a  moment  he  grumbled :  "  I  '11  start  a 
country  establishment  sort  of  thing.  Good  for  my 
health,  I  suppose." 

"  An'  us  to  do  for  you,  sir  ?  "  inquired  the  eager 
Dandy. 

"  Why  should  I  keep  you  on  ?  You  don't  con- 
sider me,  my  man,"  roared  the  playwright  moodily. 
"  You  with  a  missus !  " 

The  idea  filled  Dandy  with  joy  in  spite  of  his  mas- 
ter's wrath. 


258  PIPPIN 

"  I  '11  get  out  your  riding  things,  sir ! "  he  said, 
hoping  a  canter  in  the  park  would  brighten  the  pros- 
pect for  Mr.  Granville.  "  And  if  you  '11  just  drop 
in  and  look  her  over,  sir  —  before  you  send  me 
away,  sir — " 

"  Who  's  sent  you  away  ?  "  Mr.  Granville  de- 
manded, and  Dandy  hurried  out  to  fetch  the  riding 
togs. 

A  little  later  his  master  was  ready  for  his  canter 
in  the  park. 

"  I  've  forgot  to  mention  it,  sir,"  Dandy  said  as  he 
followed  to  the  door,  "  but  they  's  a  little  pl'y  goes 
on  at  The  Royal  Theater  of  Varieties  to-night,  an' 
if  I  'm  not  needed,  I  'm  dropping  around  to  see  it. 
You  might  care  to  hear  about  it.  '  Miss  Nestor's 
Necklace '  is  the  name  of  it  — " 

"What?"  cried  Mr.  Granville,  "the  windfall?" 

"Never,  sir!" 

"  I  tell  you  it  is !  "  insisted  the  playwright.  "  A 
little  American  playlet  —  sold  it  to  Percy  Claver- 
ing— " 

"  You  never  told  me,  sir,"  reminded  Dandy.  "  I 
never  'card  the  title  of  the  windfall  from  you,  sir  — 
nor  who  got  it.  I  thought  it  was  out  of  town, 
s'truth!" 

"  Gad,"  said  Mr.  Granville,  "  so  it 's  on  to-night. 
Upon  my  word ! "  he  laughed.  "  Wonder  what  '11 
come  of  it.  I  '11  go  —  no,  I  Ve  got  something  else 
on  —  you'll  go,  Dan!  Don't  forget;  if  it  should 


PIPPIN 

make  a  hit,  we  '11  get  some  more  out  of  it,  you 
know!" 

"  The  leading  woman,  sir,  is  an  American. 
She  's  a  personal  acquaintance  —  a  friend  of  my 
young  woman's.  I  understand  she  's  looked  to,  to 
mike  the  pl'y  a  hit !  " 

"  This  is  interesting !  "  Mr.  Granville  said. 

"No.  You  never  told  me  the  windfall  had  to 
do  with  an  earl,  sir ! "  said  Dandy,  a  shade  of  re- 
proach in  his  tone. 

"  Oh,  Clavering  does  n't  bother  much  about  that ; 
he  's  out  to  make  money ! "  Mr.  Granville  hurried 
off  mumbling. 

That  night  found  Dandy  at  The  Rose  and  Crown. 
The  little  barmaid's  eyes  were  round  and  dark  with 
excitement  when  her  lover  entered. 

"  You  did  manage  to  come ! "  she  cried  happily  as 
he  raised  a  shiny  top-hat  to  her. 

"  I  s'y,  dear,  'ere 's  a  bit  of  news,"  he  whispered, 
leaning  over  the  bar  quickly.  "  This  pl'y,  '  Miss 
Nestor's  Necklace  '  is  the  windfall  —  the  one  I  told 
you  of,  me  master  wrote  it! " 

"  Is  it  truth  you  s'y  ?  "  she  gasped.  "  Oh,  Dandy- 
boy  —  why  'ave  n't  you  told  me  ?  " 

"  Never  knew,"  he  said.     "Just  got  on  to-d'y!  " 

Then  he  explained  hurriedly;  Pippin  listened, 
keeping  alert  for  any  one  who  might  be  needing  her 
attention. 

"  You  've  give  me  a  turn,"  she  said.     "  I  feel  all 


260  PIPPIN 

the  more  responsible  now  —  oh  'Eaven  send  us 
stren'th—  " 

The  buttons  rose  and  fell  in  the  even  row  down 
her  snug  little  bodice. 

"  Listen,  dear,"  Dandy  went  on  after  a  quick  look 
round,  "  I  've  come  'ere  to-night  first  and  foremost 
to  ask  you  to  nime  the  day.  I  've  come  for  that 
more  than  anythink  else.  Name  it  quick  —  make  it 
soon,  I  '11  not  be  put  off  — " 

He  caught  the  hand  that  mopped  a  cloth  over  the 
bar. 

"  Oh,  Dandy,  Miss  has  been  most  ill,  all  d'y  and 
so  in  a  fright  —  I  can't  think  to-night,  old  chap !  " 

"  You  Ve  got  to,"  said  Dandy.  "  Nime  the  d'y, 
or  I  will!" 

"  I  can't  leave  Miss  Lawrence  —  her  stren'th  is 
spent,"  she  says ;  "  more  than  she  knew !  " 

"  I  give  you  a  month,"  Dandy  said  with  finality. 
"  Then  we  '11  be  married  an'  go  to  live  in  a 
manor." 

Pippin  fell  back,  but  he  still  held  her  hand.  He 
looked  sharply  round  the  room  again,  drew  some- 
thing from  his  pocket  and  when  he  released  the  lit- 
tle hand,  there  encircled  her  third  finger  a  slender 
gold  band  set  with  a  gem  of  heavenly  blue. 

"Oh!"  she  cried  out. 

The  landlord  passing  her  at  that  moment  and  be- 
ing irritable  after  suddenly  awaking  from  a  nap, 
gave  her  a  light  rap  on  the  shoulder  blade. 


PIPPIN  261 

"  Oh,"  she  said  again,  but  pressing  the  turquoise 
to  her  cheek. 

After  this  in  spite  of  her  duties  she  stole  fre- 
quent glances  at  her  lover  who  hovered  happily  near. 
She  saw  that  he  had  added  a  monocle  to  his  toilette ; 
how  he  reflected  his  master's  success !  The  top-hat 
was  new  to  her,  too.  Mr.  Granville  never  gave  his 
gentleman-in-waiting  anything  shabby. 

"  Blow-me-tight,  if  you  ain't  the  double  of  a 
lord!  "  she  once  managed  to  tell  him  proudly. 

Suddenly  the  Earl  of  Clavering  came  into  the 
barroom.  Mr.  Dicky  Rogers  followed  him  closely. 

"  Brandies  and  sodas  —  two ! "  his  lordship  de- 
manded. "  Now,  Dick,"  he  said,  turning  to  Mr. 
Rogers,  "  are  you  certain  of  your  red  light  and  the 
properties  ?  " 

"  Everything  under  my  control  is  in  shape,  abso- 
lutely," Dicky  returned  confidently,  "  absolutely!  " 

"Then  that's  all  right!"  but  his  lordship's  ex- 
citement was  most  apparent.  "  I  admit  I  'm  anx- 
ious," he  said.  He  pulled  at  his  fair  mustachios. 
He  placed  his  monocle  and  regarded  the  barmaid. 

"  I  say ! "  Dicky  Rogers  with  a  wry  face  looked 
at  her  too.  "  What  filthy  mess  is  this  ?  " 

"  What  have  you  done,  young  woman  ?  "  ques- 
tioned Lord  Percy,  peering  into  his  glass.  "  I  said 
brandy  and  soda." 

Pippin  stared  at  them. 

"  Lor'  love  us !  "  she  cried,  coming  to  her  senses ; 


262  PIPPIN 

"  I  've  gone  and  put  bitters  in  'em,  I  'm  that  worked 
up,  sir,  thinkin'  about  my  Miss.  Oh,  sir,  she  went 
over  it  all  the  last  thing  before  I  left  'er  and  never 
missed  a  word  from  A  to  Zed  or  a  bit  of  that  which 
she  calls  business  an'  action.  But  she  says  to  me  — 
she  says, '  Pippin,  they 's  such  a  thing  as  stige  fright. 
Oh,  Gawd  'elp  us,  sir,  what  ever  it  is  — " 

His  lordship  put  down  his  glass  and  took  several 
turns  about  the  bar.  Other  patrons  gave  some  cut- 
ting orders,  which  were  followed  by  commands 
from  the  landlord  that  brought  the  preoccupied 
Pippin  sharply  to  the  peril  of  her  position. 

"  Give  me  a  stout,"  demanded  Mr.  Rogers 
crossly.  "  I  Ve  got  to  be  off.  I  never  wanted  this 
American  — " 

"  The  play  goes  on  in  half  an  hour,  Pippin," 
whispered  his  lordship  presently,  coming  back  to 
the  bar.  "  Realize  that !  Do  .you  advise  sending 
Miss  Lawrence  a  glass  of  wine  and  a  biscuit?  She 
looked  very  white." 

"  No,  your  lordship,  she  'd  never  touch  it  sir,  I 
know.  She  wants  to  keep  'er  head,  not  lose  it." 

"  Perhaps  you  're  right,"  he  said.  "  And  after 
all  she 's  so  determined  and  clever  —  she  knows 
what  she 's  about !  " 

But  the  earl  was  striving  to  reassure  himself. 
His  leading  lady  had  seemed  on  the  point  of  a  break- 
down. She  had  closed  herself  in  her  dressing-room 
demanding  to  be  left  alone. 


PIPPIN  263 

"  My  poor  Miss,"  Pippin  whispered  the  Earl. 
"  You  see  she  'd  'ad  a  long  worry  before  this  and 
it 's  telling  now,  sir!  " 

But  his  lordship  consulted  his  watch  and  hurried 
away. 

The  Royal  orchestra  began  playing  "  Way  Down 
South  in  Dixie." 

"There!"  cried  Pippin.  "  'Eaven  send  'er 
stren'th  and  keep  off  the  stige  fright !  " 

Dandy  leaned  over  the  bar. 

"  Keep  your  eye  open  for  a  chanct  to  'ave  a  look 
in,"  he  whispered  and  joined  the  others  crowding 
back  into  the  theater. 

The  gruff  voice  of  the  landlord  startled  Pippin. 

"  It 's  'is  lordship's  wish  you  step  in  an'  see  a  bit 
o'  this  play.  Everythink  being  quiet  'ere  for  the 
moment,  go  along! " 

Pippin  did  not  heed  the  uncordial  leave.  Hurry- 
ing across  the  barroom,  she  slipped  into  The  Royal 
lobby.  It  was  nearly  a  full  house.  She  looked 
over  the  audience.  She  gazed  at  the  boxes. 
Packed,  every  one  of  them!  Gentlemen  filled  them 
all,  except  one;  it  was  the  stage-box.  Here  the 
Earl  of  Clavering's  anxious  face  was  to  be  seen  at 
the  back,  while  other  men  stood  and  ladies  were 
seated  in  the  foreground.  All  leaned  forward,  the 
curtain  rose ! 

The  scene  was  a  room.  There  were  the  long  red 
curtains  through  which  Miss  Lawrence  —  Miss 


264  PIPPIN 

Nestor  would  come.  Miss  Lawrence  had  over  and 
over  rehearsed  this  entrance  at  home,  slipping  be- 
hind the  butter  muslin  curtains  that  partitioned  off 
Pippin's  apartment  and  then  stealing  out  as  she 
would  now  in  the  play.  Once  she  had  rehearsed, 
with  Pippin  for  the  burglar.  Pippin  knew  all  of 
Miss  Nestor's  lines.  She  trembled  and  clasped  her 
hands  as  two  men  came  upon  the  stage  —  a  real 
gentleman  and  a  burglar  disguised  as  a  gentleman. 
She  would  never  have  thought  that  one  could  look 
so  gentlemanly  and  turn  out  so  badly  as  the  burglar 
was  to  do.  Then  she  thought  of  how  it  was  all 
Dandy's  master's  play,  and  his  doing  entirely.  But 
she  could  not  keep  this  in  mind.  It  was  very  real. 
It  went  on  rapidly.  Miss  Nestor  made  her  first  en- 
trance, wearing  a  beautiful  gown  of  shimmering 
satin  and  the  necklace!  She  was  giving  a  ball  in 
another  part  of  her  house.  The  music  from  the 
ballroom  could  be  heard.  It  was  very  real !  A  lit- 
tle applause  from  the  boxes  greeted  Miss  Nestor's 
entrance. 

She  stopped,  disconcerted,  almost  lost.  The  pit 
hissed,  "Sh!  Sh!" 

Pippin  wrung  her  hands.  A  lump  rose  in  her 
throat.  Miss  Nestor  spoke,  almost  inaudibly. 
"  Louder ! "  was  cried.  The  actress  halted,  seemed 
to  sway  —  an  instant's  deathly  stillness.  Then  with 
a  new  grip  on  herself,  she  recovered  her  audience 
and  went  on!  Pippin  forgot  that  she  knew  Miss 


PIPPIN  265 

Nestor's  lines,  she  might  never  have  heard  them, 
now  she  was  so  carried  away  with  the  play.  It  went 
on  thrillingly.  Pippin  was  so  lost  that  she  hardly 
knew  when  Dandy  found  her  and  stopped  close  be- 
side her,  holding  her  hand. 

They  stood  together,  watching  eagerly. 

Then  came  the  part  that  the  poster  depicted. 
The  lights  were  lowered  and  in  darkness  the  real 
gentleman  sat  looking  over  the  necklace.  It  was  an 
heirloom  that  Miss  Nestor  had  entrusted  to  him. 
He  was  to  sell  it  for  her  for  she  could  have  enough 
money  to  save  the  family  honor  with.  The  gentle- 
man regarded  the  precious  stones  of  the  necklace 
lovingly.  Then  he  spoke  fondly  of  Miss  Nestor, 
revealing  things  she  did  not  know.  In  the  midst 
of  this  the  burglar  thrust  his  masked  face  in  at  the 
long  window,  and  then  he  came  in.  He  advanced, 
creeping,  creeping  —  the  victim,  unconscious  of  his 
danger,  all  but  in  the  robber's  clutches.  The  red 
curtains  parted,  Miss  Nestor,  a  vision  of  golden- 
haired  loveliness,  in  trailing  negligee,  stole  out  —  the 
audience  breathlessly  hushed.  Miss  Nestor  fired, 
missed.  The  startled  burglar  turned,  seized  her! 
She  screamed,  struggled  —  another  scream  echoed 
hers,  but  the  firm  hand  of  Dandy  quickly  stifled  it. 

"  Stow  it,  dear !  "  he  whispered  and  grasped  the 
shoulders  of  the  excited  Pippin,  hurrying  her  back 
to  the  barroom. 

"  Blimy !  "  she  cried,  as  she  stood  blinking  and 


266  PIPPIN 

staring  up  at  him,  "  'ow  real,  'ow  grand  it  was !  To 
think  it  was  my  Miss  the  whole  time  —  oh,  Dandy !  " 

"  It 's  a  go ! "  he  said.  "  Take  my  word  the  mas- 
ter's little  pl'y's  a  g° —  it  is  a  windfall,  awright, 
thanks  to  — " 

Applause  sounded  loudly  in  the  theater. 

"  My  Miss  Lawrence !  "  finished  Pippin.  "  No 
sleep,  no  tea,  'ardly  nothink  but  at  it  over  and  over, 
since  the  day  the  Earl  sent  for  'er,  Dandy !  " 

They  looked  at  each  other.  Dandy  opened  his 
arms,  Pippin  flew  to  them;  it  was  a  quick,  happy 
embrace  and  the  little  barmaid  slipped  back  to  her 
place  behind  the  bar  to  await  the  coming  of  the 
Earl  of  Clavering. 


f 


CHAPTER  XIX 

ISS  LAWRENCE  was  ready  to  go 
home.  She  stepped  out  of  her  dress- 
ing-room and  found  the  Earl  of  Clav- 
ering  and  his  cousin,  little  Lady 
Maude,  just  coming  for  her. 
"  All  ready,  dear  ?  "  asked  Lady  Maude.  "  Come 
along  then.  It  is  very  black  overhead  and  will  rain 
soon,  I  fear.  You  are  to  go  home  in  the  brougham 
for  we're  going  along  in  a  friend's  motor, —  we 
must  n't  let  you  get  wet." 

"  Rather  not !  "  echoed  his  lordship. 
Leonora  laughed. 

She  had  gone  home  nearly  every  night  since  the 
very  first  one  of  the  play  —  almost  three  weeks 
ago,  in  the  Clavering  brougham,  for  the  Claverings 
could  not  be  too  careful  of  their  mascot.  They  all 
picked  their  way  across  the  stage  behind  the  drop- 
curtain  that  quivered  with  the  top-notes  of  Number 
Nine.  Lady  Maude  took  Leonora's  arm  as  they 
reached  the  stage  door,  for  a  tall  gentleman  who 
stood  there,  stepped  forward,  his  eyes  on  Miss  Law- 
rence. 

"  Ah,  here  you  are,  Bertie,"  greeted  his  lordship. 
267 


268  PIPPIN 

"  Allow  me,  Miss  Lawrence  —  at  last,  Mr.  Granville 
the  playwright,  author  of  '  Miss  Nestor's  — '  " 

But  Miss  Lawrence  and  Mr.  Granville  had  stared 
an  instant,  recognized  each  other,  and  were  quickly 
shaking  hands,  laughingly. 

"  We  've  met  before !  "  Mr.  Granville  said,  turn- 
ing to  the  Earl. 

"  Yes,"  Leonora  told  Lady  Maude.  "  Mr.  Gran- 
ville walked  into  the  back  of  my  chair  —  in  Mr. 
Toby  Hamilton's  office  one  day." 

They  both  laughed  again  at  the  recollection. 

"  How  very  funny,"  little  Lady  Maude  said  with 
amusement.  "  And  all  this  time  Mr.  Granville 
hasn't  known  that  he  had  met  the  leading  lady  of 
his  own  play." 

"And  had  treated  her  rudely,"  said  Miss  Law- 
rence looking  at  him  slyly.  "  But  I  am  so  relieved 
to  see  you  again,  for  I  have  suspected  you  of  being 
several  people." 

The  playwright  inclined  his  head. 

"  You  're  Dandy's  master ! " 

The  master  nodded  acknowledgment. 

"  The  author  of  '  Miss  Nestor's  Necklace ' —  a 
yery  good  little  play  — " 

The  playwright  modestly  raised  his  hand. 

"  But  you  are  best  known  to  me  as  a  fellow-suf- 
ferer, seeking  audience  of  His  Managerial  High- 
ness, Mr.  T.  Hamilton  — " 

Mr.  Granville  looked  sympathetic. 


PIPPIN  269 

"  I  heard  you  give  your  name  that  day  and  it 
came  back  to  me  when  I  heard  it  again  —  oft  re- 
peated — " 

"  I  say,  you  have  been  bored !  "  Mr.  Granville  said 
solemnly.  "  But,"  he  added,  "  I  have  heard  of  Miss 
Lawrence,  you  know  —  not  alone  from  my  kind 
friends  here.  I  have  heard  from  one  with,  I  be- 
lieve, the  soundest  judgment  that  you  are  the  best 
leading  woman  in  London  to-day !  " 

Miss  Lawrence  looked  shyly  but  genuinely  pleased 
as  she  turned  to  the  Claverings. 

"  You  see,  Lady  Maude,"  she  said,  "  Pippin,  the 
little  barmaid  at  The  Rose  and  Crown  is  also,  at  odd 
moments,  my  little  maid  — " 

"  And  Dan,  my  man,"  added  the  playwright,  "  is 
getting  married  to  the  girl !  " 

They  all  laughed  as  the  plot  unraveled. 

"  How  sweet !  "  cried  Lady  Maude. 

"  I  Ve  been  up  in  Walingf  ord  leasing  a  manor 
for  them,"  resignedly  Mr.  Bertram  Granville  went 
on,  "  that  is  partly  why  I  've  not  been  around  here. 
I  shall  live  with  them  there  —  Dan  thinks  it  better 
for  my  health." 

"Well,  look  here,  old  chap!"  cried  the  Earl. 
"  What 's  this  I  hear  about  you  —  you  've  sold  a 
play  to  Toby  Hamilton;  he's  bringing  it  out  this 
autumn  —  am  I  right  ?  " 

Mr.  Granville  looked  at  them  all  with  the  happiest 
smile. 
17 


270  PIPPIN 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  "  you  're  right !  That 's  the  real 
thing  I  've  been  so  jolly  busy  about  too.  But  now 
it 's  done  —  all  settled  and  signed !  " 

Miss  Lawrence  offered  him  her  hand  quickly. 

"  Congratulations !  "  cried  Lady  Maude. 

"  I  have  thought  disrespectfully  of  Mr.  Hamil- 
ton," he  admitted.  "  I  hardly  deserve  the  good  for- 
tune. I  cursed  my  foolishness  for  swotting  at  his 
idea,  but  I  worked  it  out! " 

He  stood,  looking  suddenly  youthful,  happy  and 
grateful. 

"  And  there  '11  be  some  money  from  *  The  Neck- 
lace,' "  recalled  the  Earl. 

"  Yes,"  little  Lady  Maude  added,  as  she  took  Le- 
onora's arm  again,  "  you  've  made  us  all  some 
money,  my  dear,  out  of  that.  Without  you  — " 

"  A  fizzle !  "  cried  the  Earl  decidedly. 

Mr.  Granville  would  have  added  more  praise  but 
Leonora  declared  she  must  go,  to  be  home  before 
Pippin,  who  was  given  to  worrying  about  her. 

So  they  all  hurried  to  the  brougham  and  at  the 
last  moment,  Lady  Maude  said: 

"  We  want  you  to  come  with  us  up  the  river  to- 
morrow, if  it 's  fine.  It  will  do  you  good  —  you  're 
looking  too  white,  my  dear.  Will  you  ?  " 

"  And  you  '11  join  us,  Granville,  what  ?  "  added 
the  Earl. 

"  Yes !  "  Lady  Maude  insisted,  "  please  do,  Mr. 
Granville!" 


PIPPIN  271 

The  playwright,  regretful,  could  not,  but  Leonora 
said  she  would  go,  so  they  arranged  an  early  meet- 
ing for  the  next  day. 

Leonora  sat  thoughtful  during  the  ride  to  Jubilee 
Court.  She  liked  the  Claverings.  She  was  happy 
to  be  so  appreciated  by  them  —  for  she  had  tried 
conscientiously  in  the  little  play.  She  was  very 
happy,  too,  in  her  own  hardly  won  success.  There 
had  been  some  nice  notices  about  her  and  another 
better  engagement  at  a  big  theater  in  London  might 
result.  She  might  even  get  to  lead  in  one  of  them. 
She  recalled  that  soon  the  Clarks  would  be  coming 
back  to  London  —  Elvira  and  Sid  Long.  She 
would  be  glad  to  have  them  see  her  play  Miss  Nes- 
tor ;  even  at  the  little  old  Royal  —  it  was  London ! 
Then  they  could  tell  Charlie  she  was  playing  a  lead 
in  London.  She  had  not  written  him  about  it. 
She  had  not  written  to  him  at  all  since  her  letter 
severing  all  ties.  And  there  had  been  nothing  very 
lately  from  him. 

Somehow,  she  reflected,  her  success  was  not  mak- 
ing her  as  happy  as  it  should.  She  was  happier 
in  the  Claverings'  happiness  she  believed  —  and  even 
in  little  Pippin's  and  Dandy's;  she  thought  a  good 
deal,  too,  of  Elvira  Clark  and  Sid  Long,  enjoying 
the  continent  together! 

Then  she  laughed !  These  people  were  all  in  love 
and  had  each  other.  They  had  chosen  and  —  she 
had  chosen !  Yet  strangely  she  did  not  find  the  de- 


272  PIPPIN 

sired  consolation  in  this.  She  wondered  suddenly 
if  Charlie  Browne  had  found  some  one  else! 

She  sat  up  sharply  at  the  thought.  The  rain  had 
begun  and  she  saw  that  her  skirt  was  wet  for  she 
had  not  noticed  the  rain  coming  in  at  the  open  win- 
dow of  the  carriage.  In  a  few  minutes  more  she 
was  at  home;  she  went  slowly  up  the  stairs  to  the 
room,  but  paused  as  she  heard  some  one  talking. 
It  was  Pippin's  voice.  Leonora  waited  a  moment. 

"  Passed  the  Lizard,  touched  at  Fishguard, 
touched  at  Queenstown,  due  at  Sou'hamton — " 
Pippin  broke  off  the  monotonous  drone,  crying, 
"  Strike  me  balmy  if  I  can  make  it  out! " 

Leonora  opened  the  door  and  went  in.  Pippin's 
perturbed  face  appeared  over  a  newspaper. 

"  I  never  'card  the  carriage !  I  was  reading  a  bit, 
Miss,"  but  she  crumpled  her  paper.  "  I  've  been 
looking  out  for  any  more  press  notices  o'  you !  " 

She  hurried  to  assist  Miss  Lawrence. 

"  You  've  got  your  skirt  wet ;  does  'is  lordship's 
brougham  let  in  then  ?  " 

"  It  lets  in  when  the  window  is  open,"  smiled 
Leonora,  "  and  I  neglected  to  close  it.  I  was  think- 
ing of— " 

"  I  shall  light  a  fire,  Miss,  you  're  as  wet  as  ever 
you  'd  a-got  coming  'ome  on  a  bus !  You  '11  get 
your  death  from  it,  then  what  'd  his  lordship  s'y 
to  me?  " 

In  such  haste  was  she  that  without  her  usual  cere- 


PIPPIN  273 

mony,  Pippin  fairly  stripped  Miss  Lawrence  of  her 
outer  garments  and  placed  them  on  a  chair  near  the 
grate  where  there  was  soon  a  fire  crackling. 

"  It  is  chilly,"  admitted  Leonora  when  Pippin  had 
her  seated  with  a  glass  of  hot  milk  to  drink. 

"  You  're  wanting  your  'eavy  bath-gown,  Miss," 
Pippin  said  and  pointed  to  the  trunk  standing  under 
the  window,  which  had  come  from  Mrs.  Penley's 
more  than  a  week  ago. 

Leonora  nodded  and  Pippin  raised  the  top  and 
looked  through  the  trunk  for  the  bath-robe.  The 
trunk  was  her  delight.  She  loved  the  pretty  things 
it  was  her  privilege  to  mend  and  look  out  for.  She 
found  the  gown  and  while  wrapping  Miss  Lawrence 
in  it,  looked  very  pensive. 

"  To  think,"  she  said  a  little  sadly,  "  that  Mrs. 
Penley  don't  know  that  the  gal  which  robbed  the  box 
that  night,  fetched  the  clothes  straight  to  you ! " 

Leonora  did  not  at  once  reply.  There  had  been 
a  distressing  letter  from  Mrs.  Penley  harshly  ac- 
cusing Miss  Lawrence  of  having  instigated  Pippin's 
coup.  But  Leonora  had  not  told  Pippin. 

"  Some  day,"  she  now  promised,  "  Mrs.  Penley 
shall  know !  To-morrow,  Pippin,  I  want  you  to  go 
and  see  if  our  terms  are  to  be  met  at  the  Queen 
Anne  Mansions  —  will  you?  For  I  shall  be  gone 
for  the  day  on  the  river  with  the  Claverings, 
and—" 

"  Lor'  love  a  duck !  "  fairly  yelled  Pippin. 


274  PIPPIN 

A  look  from  Miss  Lawrence  subdued  her. 

"  Leave  everything  to  me !  I  '11  bring  the  Man- 
sions to  our  terms !  "  she  said  with  studied  quiet, 
"  I  '11  see  they  do  the  rooms  just  as  you  wish.  Up 
the  river,  Miss,  with  'is  lordship !  " 

"  And  Lady  Maude !  "  added  Leonora. 

"  She  's  'is  cousin,"  Pippin  said  quickly,  "  only 
'is  cousin.  You  an'  the  Earl  of  Clavering,  Miss  — " 

"  And  Dandy  is  to  carry  little  Pippin  off,"  Le- 
onora said,  "  to  a  manor  in  Walingford !  " 

Pippin's  brow  clouded. 

"  You  want  to  go,  don't  you,  Pippin  ?  "  Leonora 
asked  anxiously.  "  You  want  to  be  married  to 
Dandy  and  go  to  live  in  the  manor?  " 

"  I  '11  not  go  for  a  time  yet,  Miss,"  Pippin  said. 
"  I  would  n't  go  an'  leave  you !  " 

"  But,  Pippin  — " 

"  No,  Miss !  "  There  was  firm  resolution  in  the 
girl's  tone  and  manner.  "  Dandy  would  never  mike 
me  go  when  I  'm  not  ready.  'Ow  do  I  know 
what  '11  'appen  you,  without  me !  "  But  a  hopeful 
smile  spread  over  her  face  slowly.  "  It  won't  be 
so  long  though,  I  fancy,  till  I  knows  you  're  in  safe 
'ands." 

She  looked  at  the  toe  of  her  new  boot  and  dug 
thoughtfully  at  a  crack  in  the  floor.  Presently  she 
inquired, 

"  What  shall  you  wear,  Miss,  going  on  the  river 
to-morrow  with  the  Earl  of  Clavering?  " 


PIPPIN  275 

Leonora  hid  her  smile,  turning  to  the  fireplace. 

"  Lady  Maude  likes  my  white  serge,"  she  said, 
"  and  the  white  sailor  hat !  " 

"  Lady  Maude  is  a  knowing  'un,"  exclaimed  Pip- 
pin. "  She  knows  what  'er  cousin,  the  Earl,  likes." 
She  darted  to  the  chest.  "  This  rose  is  all  that 's 
left  of  'is  lordship's  bouquet,  Miss  —  it  do  last  quite 
persistent ! " 

"  Nonsense,"  Miss  Lawrence  exclaimed.  "  The 
flowers  were  given  me  by  Lady  Maude,  Pippin.  I 
told  you  so.  Lady  Maude  was  very  proud  of  them 
for  she  grew  them  herself !  " 

At  that  moment  a  diffident  knock  sounded  on  their 
door. 

"  Your  old  friend  and  caretaker  is  come  back,  if 
you  please,"  a  sepulchral  voice  said  without. 

"  Mrs.  Crimmins ! "  chorused  Leonora  and  Pip- 
pin. 

"  I  'eard  your  voices !  "  the  caretaker  whispered 
as  Pippin  opened  the  door. 

She  wore  a  large  hat  with  feathers  and  roses  and 
a  black  silk  cape,  set  off  by  a  feather  boa. 

"  We  're  back,"  she  said,  looking  from  Miss  Law- 
rence to  Pippin. 

"  Back  from  your  'oneymoon  ?  An'  you  're  Mrs. 
Miles  now ! "  Pippin  rushed  forward  and  em- 
braced her. 

Leonora  rose  and  greeted  the  caretaker  with  a  pat 
on  her  shoulder  and  a  hand-shake. 


276  PIPPIN 

"  You  do  look  glum  though,"  Pippin  said,  step- 
ping back ;  "  ain't  'e  awright  ?  " 

"  Oh,  quite !  "  the  bride  answered  quickly.  "  'E  's 
all  'e  promised  me  he  'd  be  and  more.  He 's  down 
stairs  now  waiting !  " 

Leonora  slipped  across  the  room  for  the  rose. 

"  We  must  n't  keep  you,  if  he  's  waiting.  Go 
right  down  to  him  and  come  up  in  the  morning !  " 

"  Thank  you,  Miss,"  Mrs.  Miles  said,  managing  a 
smile  over  the  rose.  "  But  the  fact  is,  I  've  come 
up  on  account  o'  Sally.  She 's  in  the  rooms  — 
she 's  not  even  a-bed.  I  've  seen  her  through  the 
keyhole." 

"  Well,  what 's  the  row  ?  "  urged  Pippin. 

"  You  know  Sally,"  the  mother  said. 

"  Come  along,  I  '11  see  you  through,"  cried  Pip- 
pin. 

Mrs.  Miles  brightened. 

"  Miles  'oped  you  'd  come  down,  I  'ated  to  ask 
it—" 

Pippin  took  her  arm  and  hurried  her  to  the  door. 

"  Good  night,  Mrs.  Miles!  "  called  Leonora,  wav- 
ing the  bride  away. 

They  found  the  cobbler  waiting  in  the  lower  hall. 
He  hugged  a  large  box.  In  spite  of  the  situation  he 
looked  happy.  He  greeted  Pippin  as  an  old  friend. 

"  I  sent  the  boy  a  postal  from  Margate,  telling  'im 
what  I  'd  done,"  he  whispered. 

"  'E  got  it,"  she  answered,  shaking  hands  with 


PIPPIN  277 

him.     "  'E  showed  it  to  me,  too.     'E  said  you  was 
a  sly  old  dog!" 

Miles  laughed  with  pleasure  and  followed  to  the 
door  that  barred  the  dreaded  Sally. 

"  Wait,"  whispered  Mrs.  Miles  with  a  hand  on 
Pippin's  arm.  "  Shall  I  tell  'er  at  onct  or  put  it  off 
a  bit;  the  money  me  an'  Miles  invested  in  a  thing 
we  thought  to  be  a  certainty  is  — " 

"  Lost !  "  breathed  Miles  hoarsely.  "  It  was  a 
swindle.  If  I  ever  get  my  'ands  on  the  bounder  — " 

"  Don't  tell  'er  to-night,"  said  Pippin. 

She  knocked  on  the  caretaker's  door. 

"  Who  's  there  ?  "  came  from  within. 

Pippin  prodded  the  bride  and  she  answered 
faintly. 

"  It 's  your  mother,  my  dear." 

The  door  opened  quickly.  Sally  in  a  flannelette 
wrapper,  her  scant  hair  smoothed  back  in  a  pigtail, 
held  up  a  lighted  candle. 

"Mother!" 

"Sally!" 

Sally  stepped  back  and  her  mother  entered  with 
the  aid  of  two  pairs  of  unseen  hands. 

"  Don't  push  so,  Miles !  " 

Suddenly  Miles  himself  seemed  to  be  hurrying  in 
faster  than  he  desired.  He  struck  at  something  be- 
hind him. 

"  Don't  push,"  he  whispered  in  his  turn. 

Pippin  came  forward,  laughing. 


278  PIPPIN 

"  Now,  Sally,  be  a  lamb !  "  she  whispered. 

"  Upon  my  word !  "  cried  Sally,  "  you  don't  mean 
to  s'y,  Mother,  you  're  afraid  of  your  own  daugh- 
ter?" 

But  alas  with  every  indication  of  this,  Mrs. 
Miles  hovered  between  her  new  husband  and  little 
Pippin. 

"  Per'aps  I  was  wrong  to  go  off  without  telling 
you,  Sally  —  but  I  —  I  am  very  'appy !  "  and  the 
bride  broke  down  and  wept  on  the  shoulder  of  the 
bridegroom.  Over  the  three  feathers  of  the  bridal 
hat  he  looked  yearningly  for  peace  at  Sally. 

"  Mother,"  Sally  said,  "  stop  that  sniveling.  If 
I  'm  in  the  way  'ere,  I  '11  go  'ome  late  as  it  is  — 
to-night.  You  did  do  wrong  to  elope.  I  have  'ad 
me  work  cut  out  'ere  too,  to  keep  this  berth  for  you ; 
an'  Taylor  at  me  constantly  to  come  home.  You 
ought  to  kiss  me,  I  should  think ! " 

In  a  twinkling  the  shaking  form  was  transferred 
by  the  loving  hands  of  husband  to  daughter. 

"  Where  's  Mr.  Miles  to  sleep  to-night  ?  "  asked 
the  practical  Pippin. 

"Over  me  shop  —  to-night,"  answered  he,  wink- 
ing as  the  bride  began  to  revive.  "  Good  night,  my 
dear.  I  '11  leave  you  with  —  Sally !  " 

"  Miles ! "  the  bride  said,  drying  her  eyes  to  per- 
form a  belated  ceremony,  "  this  is  me  daughter  Sally. 
The  eldest  child  she  is  —  Sally,  Mr.  Miles  wishes  to 
be  a  good  father  to  you !  " 


PIPPIN  279 

Sally  and  the  cobbler  gripped  hands  with  unex- 
pected and  heartfelt  fervor. 

"  I'm  off !  "  cried  Pippin,  backing  toward  the 
door.  "  Sally,  you  '11  tell  your  mother  everythink !  " 
She  stepped  into  the  hall,  paused  and  looked  back. 
"  Sally,  some  night  very  soon  you  're  to  see  the  pl'y. 
The  Earl  of  Clavering  'as  promised  me  a  box.  I  've 
told  the  Earl  I  've  ever  so  many  friends  an'  so  'e 
s'ys  —  the  Earl  says,  I  am  to  'ave  a  box !  " 

Pippin  made  an  impressive  pause.  The  bride- 
groom stared  at  her,  the  bride's  moist  eyes  were 
wide  with  wonder. 

"  Good  night  all,"  said  Pippin  and  closed  the 
door,  she  was  certain,  upon  a  united  family. 


CHAPTER  XX 

Y  word  your  'air  can  do  a  bit  of 
gleamin',"  Pippin  cried,  standing  off 
for  a  less  intimate  view  of  her  young 
lady's  charms.  "  It 's  beautiful  in 
them  plaits.  And  the  Earl  of  Claver- 
ing  ivill  be  glad  it 's  turned  out  fine,  after  the  rain ! " 
Leonora  sighed.  To  deny  an  infatuation  that  ex- 
isted alone  but  persistently  in  Pippin's  fond  young 
fancy  would  probably  involve  them  in  a  trying  ar- 
gument; Pippin  was  set  about  some  things.  Le- 
onora took  up  her  gloves,  resignedly.  At  the  door 
she  met  Sally  Taylor. 

"  Good  morning,  Miss  Lawrence.  These  letters 
were  just  brought  round  from  The  Royal  by  the 
Earl  of  Clavering's  man  —  special !  " 

"  Thank  you,  Sally !  "  Leonora  took  them  and  saw 
that  one  was  for  Pippin. 

But  she  became  quickly  absorbed  in  her  own. 
The  letter  was  addressed  to  her  at  The  Royal 
Theater  of  Varieties.     In  the  upper  left-hand  cor- 
ner was  the  name  of  Toby  Hamilton  and  the  ad- 
dress of  his  office.     She  read : 

280 


PIPPIN  281 

Dear  Miss  Lawrence, 

Will  you  call  and  see  me  one  morning  this  week  at 
ten?  Your  performance  at  The  Royal  reveals  emo- 
tional power  striking  and  unsuspected. 

("This  admission  from  you,  oh  King!"  mar- 
veled Leonora  sotto  voce.)  The  letter  continued: 

I  think  you  could  handle  Sophie  in  "  Langdon's: 

Reform,"  which  goes  en  tour  next  month.     Later  the 

company  returns  to  a  West  End  playhouse,  so  you 

would  secure  a  lead  in  London  with  the  engagement. 

Yours  very  truly, 

T.  HAMILTON. 

Deaf  to  Pippin's  babble,  Leonora  stood  looking 
at  the  missive  of  flattering  response  to  her  success. 
Back,  back  over  the  past  agonizing  weeks  went  her 
mind.  Back  to  the  night  that  she  stepped  upon  the 
stage,  numb  with  panic  over  the  lines  there  had  not 
been  time  enough  to  commit  —  and  lack  of  rehears- 
ing; weak  from  ages  of  weary  disappointment  and 
insufficient  food,  beset  by  deadly  inertia.  How  had 
she  won !  But  that  she  had  won,  had  never  seemed 
so  clear  as  now.  Resentment,  half  revengeful,  stole 
over  her. 

She  darted  back  to  her  writing  things  and  fran- 
tically penned  an  answer. 

Dear  Mr.  Hamilton: 

Nothing  could  be  more  gratifying  than  your  recog- 
nition of  my  unsuspected  ability.  Your  discovery  a 


282  PIPPIN 

little  earlier  would  have  spared  me  hunger.  But  ex- 
periences help  every  actress!  I  can't  accept  your 
offer,  thank  you,  because  when  I  close  my  engage- 
ment at  The  Royal  I  am  going  — 

She  paused,  then  wrote  "  home." 

She  signed,  sealed  and  addressed  her  letter.  She 
held  it,  thought,  then  dropped  it  in  the  top  drawer 
of  the  chest  upon  which  she  had  written. 

"  I  can't  send  it,"  she  admitted  regretfully ; 
"  which  is  one  of  the  most  disappointing  things  I  've 
ever  known!  At  ten  any  morning  this  week — " 
she  musingly  recalled  the  appointment  as  she  turned 
to  Pippin  who  had  been  loudly  clamoring  for  atten- 
tion. 

"  Miss  Lawrence !  "  Pippin  begged.  "  Do  look 
'ere,  Miss!" 

Leonora  looked,  obliged  to  capture  the  paper  she 
was  requested  to  view  before  this  was  possible. 

"  Compliments  of  the  Earl  of  Clavering,"  cried 
Pippin  in  a  mad  jig.  "  A  pass  for  a  box.  'E  said 
I  should  give  a  box-party !  " 

Extreme  in  her  joy  she  seized  Sally  Taylor. 

"  Go  'ome  an'  get  ready,  Sally !  You  're  to  bring 
Hal,  the  darling.  Oh,  I  feel  as  though  I  should 
bust!" 

"  You  're  like  to,  if  you  keep  on,"  laughed  Sally 
Taylor,  "though  I  really  don't  wonder  at  it  my- 
self." 


PIPPIN  283 

"  Mind  now,"  Pippin  instructed  her.  "  Bring 
Mr.  Taylor,  your  two  little  brothers  and  my  little 
'un." 

Sally  started  backing  out. 

"  The  d'y  after  to-morrow !  Come  early,  Sally ; 
and  mind  you  tog  up.  There  '11  be  your  mother  an' 
Miles  and — " 

"  I  'm  off !  "  Sally  showed  excitement.  "  Good 
d'y,  Miss  Lawrence.  Mother's  coming  up  to  see 
you  soon." 

"Mind,  Sally,  you  doss  up,"  pressed  Pippin; 
"and,  oh,  Miss  Lawrence,  will  you  tell  'is  lord- 
ship—" 

"  What  a  happy  Pippin  I  have  left  at  home," 
smiled  Leonora.  "  I  shall  be  sure  to."  Indulgently 
deciding  to  share  her  surprise,  she  added,  giving 
Pippin  the  letter  she  had  received,  "  You  may  read 
this  and  then  put  it  in  the  top  drawer." 

Pippin  read  and  reread  the  letter  unbelievingly. 
Then  slowly,  as  it  had  come  to  Leonora,  the  thought 
of  what  this  letter  would  once  have  meant  came 
to  her.  She  looked  up,  but  she  was  alone. 

"  My  dear  Miss,  waiting,  waiting,  waiting  — 'op- 
ing and  'oping,  going  again  an'  again — 'er  sweet 
countenance  getting  so  white  and  strange  like  and 
never,  nothink ! " 

Teddy  chirped  out  merrily. 

"  Yes,  old  chap,"  she  said,  "  it  is  awright  now, 
but  them  was  terrible  d'ys ! "  But  melancholy 


284  PIPPIN 

merged  with  the  cause  into  the  past.  She  looked  to 
the  future. 

Waltzing  across  the  room,  she  dropped  the  let- 
ter in  the  top  drawer,  murmuring  dreamily : 

"  Lady  Leonora  Clavering."  The  caretaker's 
voice,  calling  agitatedly  from  below,  startled  her 
rudely. 

Hurrying  down  she  found  Mrs.  Miles  in  the 
Court,  talking  to  some  one ;  Pippin  looked,  stopped 
and  caught  at  the  baluster  for  support.  Mr.  Charles 
Browne  of  Goshen,  Indiana,  had  come!  The  liv- 
ing image  of  his  photograph,  he  stood  there  on  the 
pavement,  straw  hat  in  his  hand,  his  eyes  roving 
over  the  house. 

Pippin  stepped  out.  As  he  looked  at  her  she  be- 
came suddenly  weak-kneed  and  giddy.  But  her 
heart  cried  out  loyally  for  the  Earl. 

"  I  am  Pippin,"  she  said,  looking  up  at  the  tall 
American.  "  I  see  you  've  come !  " 

Mr.  Browne's  face  showed  the  greatest  relief ;  he 
smiled  at  her. 

"  I  got  in  this  morning !  "  he  said,  stepping  nearer 
the  door.  "  I  must  see  Miss  Lawrence  at  once,  I 
got  your  letter  —  what 's  the  matter  ?  "  he  demanded 
as  the  caretaker  gave  a  startled  gasp. 

"  I  sent  for  you,"  Pippin  said ;  "  yes,  sir !  But 
—  you  Ve  come  too  late,  Mr.  Browne ! " 

"  Rather !  "  chimed  Mrs.  Miles,  thinking  she  saw 
her  cue. 


PIPPIN  285 

"  Too  late  —  what  do  you  mean  ?  "  thundered  the 
gentleman  so  sharply  that  Pippin  was  alarmed. 

"  Well,  you  see,  sir,"  she  ventured,  yet  bold.  "  I 
sent  for  you,  quite  unknown  to  Miss  Lawrence.  If 
it  ever  gets  to  'er  that  I  did  it,  sir  —  well  I  don't 
know  what,  s'truth !  " 

"  Do  you  mean  she  does  n't  want  to  see  me  ?  " 
asked  Mr.  Browne. 

Pippin  looked  from  the  restive  caretaker,  back  to 
the  kind,  puzzled  face  of  the  gentleman  she  had 
brought  all  the  way  from  America.  It  did  seem 
rather  too  bad. 

"  I  am  going  to  ask  you,  sir,  to  go  away  again," 
she  said  pleadingly.  "  You  've  come  too  late !  I 
can't  tell  you  'ow  it 's  been  all  these  d'ys  past.  Why, 
sir,  everythink  Miss  Lawrence  'as  wanted  an' 
needed  an'  nearly  died  for,  she  could  n't  get  — "  she 
put  her  hand  on  his  arm  timidly.  "  She  needed  you, 
sir,  but  you  was  n't  'ere !  You  did  n't  come.  She 
wanted  a  engigement  —  she  even  wanted  money  for 
'er  rent,  she  wanted  su'think  to  eat  besides  bread 
that  was  stale  — " 

"  My  God !  "  Mr.  Browne  cried,  placing  his  hand 
over  Pippin's. 

"  Yes,"  Pippin  said,  stepping  back,  "  an'  now,  sir, 
when  she  needs  nothink,  when  she  's  in  clover,  with 
a  Lunnon  engigement  as  a  leading  woman  and  a 
earl  to  go  about  with,  everythink  and  everybody 
turns  up  —  but  too  late !  " 

18 


286  PIPPIN 

Mr.  Browne  folded  his  arms  over  his  chest  and 
his  grave  face  was  set. 

"I  did  n't  know!  "he  said. 

"  Well,  she  was  n't  evicted,  if  she  could  n't  p'y !  " 
the  caretaker  put  in,  shaking  her  dust-cloth  vigor- 
ously round  Mr.  Browne.  "  I  went  aw'y  partly 
not  to  see  it  done,  too.  If  it  'd  got  to  come  to  that,  I 
left  it  for  Sally  and  the  agent."  She  smiled  be- 
nignly. 

Pippin  frowned  her  to  silence. 

"  What  you  going  to  do,  sir?  Will  you  go  away? 
You  would  n't  want  to  upset  Miss  Lawrence  now 
she's  going  to  be  happy  so  soon,  would  you,  sir? 
She  's  out  now,  up  the  river  with  the  Earl,  sir !  " 

"  Do  you  mean  she  's  going  to  marry  him  ?  "  ques- 
tioned Mr.  Browne,  with  a  quiet  that  alarmed  Pip- 
pin. 

She  nodded  faintly. 

Mr.  Browne  turned  and  paced  a  few  steps  up  and 
down  the  pavement. 

"  This  is  awful !  "  he  muttered.  "  I  did  n't  think 
she  meant  what  she  said  in  her  last  letter.  And  to 
think  she  's  suffered  and  I  did  not  know !  " 

He  shook  his  head  fiercely. 

"If  you  '11  just  go  aw'y,  sir,  not  to  'urt  'er  worse, 
like  — "  begged  Pippin  softly. 

"  An  earl  — "  he  said  unbelievingly. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  Pippin  said.  "  The  Earl  of  Claver- 
ing,  'e  backs  The  Royal  Theater  of  Varieties!" 


"I  didn't  know !"  he  said 


PIPPIN  289 

She  kept  her  eyes  on  Mr.  Browne  while  she 
reached  into  her  deep  pocket.  "  'Ere  's  a  clipping 
about  'er.  Listen,  sir !  " 

She  read  to  him. 

"  *  At  The  Royal  Theater  of  Varieties  is  a  very 
good  little  play  entitled  "  Miss  Nestor's  Necklace." 
It  might  be  termed  a  stirring  one-act  event  of  Amer- 
ican ranch  life.  The  playwright  who  modestly 
with'olds  his  nime  from  the  public  I  learn  on  good 
authority  to  be  the  Earl  of  Clavering.'  That 's  a 
mistake,"  Pippin  interjected  and  continued  reading. 
"  *  His  lordship  is  fortunate  in  his  choice  of  Miss 
Leonora  Lawrence,  who,  as  Miss  Nestor,  proves 
'erself  a  young  actress  of  unusual  dramatic  ability 
and  'as  probably  done  much  for  the  pl'y.' ' 

Mr.  Browne's  face  was  set.  He  made  no  com- 
ment but  looked  up  and  down  the  street  and  then  up 
at  the  house. 

"  Genteel  little  plice  she  's  'ad  'ere,"  the  caretaker 
murmured  proudly.  "  Nothink,  of  course,  like  what 
I  understand  she  's  marryin'." 

Mr.  Browne  consulted  his  watch  and  turned 
away.  His  back  to  them,  he  stood  deep  in  thought, 
loathe  to  leave. 

"  You  will  go,  sir,"  Pippin  said  and  added  as  he 
did  not  move :  "  If  you  wants  to  see  'er,  sir,  and 
not  be  seen  by  'er  like,  why,  you  could  drop  in  at 
The  Royal  Theater  of  Varieties  —  about  ten,  sir. 
You'll  no  doubt  see  'is  lordship  in  the  stige  box. 


290  PIPPIN 

Next  door  to  The  Royal  is  The  Rose  and  Crown. 
I  'm  barmaid  there  —  Miss  Lawrence  not  needing 
me  all  the  time." 

Mr.  Browne  glanced  at  her,  at  the  caretaker, 
looked  over  the  house  sadly,  and  lifting  his  hat 
walked  away.  Pippin  looked  after  him.  Irreso- 
lute she  stood;  if  he  turned  round  and  came  back, 
if  he  only  looked  back,  she  should  beg  him  not  to 
go!  She  should  ask  him  in  spite  of  the  Earl  of 
Clavering  to  return  and  see  Miss  Lawrence. 

"  Well,"  said  Mrs.  Miles,  "  you  always  seemed 
to  me  a  person  of  sense.  You  did  indeed !  What 
was  you  thinkin'  about  when  you  sent  for  'im,  do 
yer  know  that  ?  " 

"  I  was  balmy,"  Pippin  said.  "  I  was  near  mad 
thinking  of  'ow  to  p'y  the  rent !  " 

"  Some  folks  would  be  as  well  off  not  able  to 
write,"  retorted  the  caretaker.  "  Now  the  fat 's  in 
the  fire.  'E  's  not  going  off  so  simple  as  'e  came. 
'E  's  a  lad  that 's  set  in  'is  way,  like  most  men !  " 

"  I  don't  know  what  to  do !  "  admitted  Pippin. 

"  Look  'ere,"  Mrs.  Miles  said,  tapping  Pippin's 
chest.  "You  got  'im  'ere  —  now  get  rid  of  'im. 
If  you  want  'er  to  lose  the  Earl,  as  you  s'y  she  's  got 
'ooked  —  " 

"  Oh,  no,  she  must  n't  lost  him  —  the  Earl,"  Pip- 
pin said.  "  I  must  send  Mr.  Browne  off !  " 

"  Glad  to  'ear  you  talk  sense ! "  approved  Mrs. 
Miles. 


PIPPIN  291 

"  When  'e  'is  gone,  I  '11  tell  Miss !  "  Pippin  edged 
away. 

In  this  dilemma  she  wished  to  be  alone  to  re- 
flect. 

"  I  '11  be  up  shortly  to  'ear  more  about  it,"  prom- 
ised the  caretaker.  "  I  'm  just  going  to  drop  round 
to  the  shop  to  tell  Miles !  " 

Pippin  reached  her  room  and  for  some  time  sat, 
hands  in  her  lap,  thinking.  At  last  sighing  heavily, 
she  took  up  some  sewing.  The  white  muslin  and 
lace  edging  that  she  took  from  the  drawer,  Leonora 
had  given  her  and  the  lingerie  for  Pippin's  trous- 
seau was  under  way. 

But  she  could  not  work ;  she  was  thinking  of  Miss 
Lawrence.  She  recalled  the  day  in  Temple  Gar- 
dens. Each  day  since  was  jotted  in  her  memory 
never  to  be  erased.  Each  day  since  had  been  to 
her,  gain.  All  the  little  things  that  she  had  learned 
from  Miss  Lawrence  who  never  had  seemed  to 
teach,  she  thought  of  now,  from  the  way  to  hold  her 
knife  and  fork  to  the  big  things  like  honor !  Honor 
was  the  hardest  thing  to  grasp  —  definitely.  It  was 
something  even  apart  from  taking  people's  purses, 
or  taking  spirits.  She  squirmed  in  her  chair.  She 
was  very  uncomfortable  about  Mr.  Browne's  com- 
ing. But  again  she  reflected,  she  had  sent  for  him 
without  being  told  to  do  so!  Was  she  not  then 
free  to  dispose  of  him?  Anyhow  she  could  not  sit 
still  and  decided  to  slip  off  at  once  and  see  about  the 


292  PIPPIN 

flat  Miss  Lawrence  was  taking  in  Queen  Anne  Man- 
sions. 

Reaching  the  corner  she  saw  a  few  repeated  puffs 
of  smoke,  a  pipe,  the  peak  of  a  cap  and  the  tip  of 
a  nose  and  chin,  projecting  from  the  other  side  of 
the  lamp-post.  She  stole  up  softly  but  the  alert 
Dandy  sprang  out,  caught  her  arm  and  planted  a  kiss 
on  her  apple-cheek. 

"  Saw  your  shadow,  dear,"  he  laughed. 

"  You  're  too  cute,"  she  laughed  back.  "  Come 
along  then  an'  'elp  me  attend  to  a  bit  o'  business !  " 

They  locked  arms  and  started  along  gaily. 

"I've  got  a  motto,"  sang  Dandy,  "ahvays  merry 
an'  bright." 

They  passed  a  doorway  from  which  a  sallow  face 
under  purple  plumes  had  been  wont  to  pop  out  at 
her,  as  she  walked  with  Dandy.  Pippin  had  told 
him  of  the  end.  Poor  Doll ! 

"I've  simp-ly  gotter  sing — "  tunefully  persisted 
Dandy. 

"  We  're  going  to  move,  Miss  an'  me,  to  a  flat !  " 
she  chatted. 

"  You  'd  better  be  looking  out  for  some  one  else 
to  take  your  place  with  the  young  lady,  Victoria 
A.,"  he  answered.  "  You  've  only  another  week,  y* 
know!" 

"  Stow  it ! "  cried  Pippin. 

"  Wotcher  mean,  dear?"  he  asked,  sobering  and 
looking  down  at  her. 


PIPPIN  293 

"  I  'ave  promised — -but  if  I  asked  you  to  wait  a 
bit  longer  —  if  I  asked  you  to  think  of  your  master, 
so  as  to  put  yourself  in  my  plice,  like  —  Miss  do 
need  me,  Dandy !  "  Pippin  said  anxiously.  "  You 
would  n't  leave  Mr.  Granville  if  'e  needed  you?  " 

"  I  '11  inquire  about  some  one  to  take  'er  off  your 
'ands,"  said  Dandy  with  finality ;  "  we  need  n't  talk 
of  it!" 

"Dandy—" 

"  It 's  all  settled,"  he  said.  "  You  an'  me  is  to 
go  to  put  the  manor  in  order  in  a  week's  time.  You 
an'  me,  dear  —  and  we  're  to  'ave  the  little  brother 
Hal !  We  '11  be  'itched  in  the  morning  an'  off  we 
goes  in  the  afternoon.  Now,  'ave  I  a  good  mas- 
ter?" 

Added  happiness  came  with  this  good  fortune  for 
little  Hal.  Dandy's  master  was  kindness  itself  and 
she  was  for  the  time  swayed  to  think  of  her  future 
responsibilities  as  Dandy's  missus  and  the  house- 
keeper of  a  manor. 

'  'E  is  good,  Dandy,  your  lordship  is  —  an'  to 
think  of  having  a  place  to  keep  little  Hal  with  us !  " 

But  having  brought  the  affairs  of  Miss  Lawrence 
to  a  climax,  only  fatally  could  her  management  be 
now  withdrawn. 

"  You  see  Miss  Lawrence  do  seem  to  need  me 
su'think  awful !  " 

"  It  '11  all  come  right!  "  persisted  Dandy. 

That  evening  the  Earl  of  Clavering  did  not  come 


294  PIPPIN 

into  the  barroom  until  late.  He  was,  if  possible,  in 
even  lighter  spirits. 

"  We  had  a  splendid  day,"  he  told  Pippin,  over  his 
brandy  and  soda.  "  It 's  done  Miss  Lawrence  good 
too.  She's  got  quite  a  little  color  and  admitted 
that  she  felt  sleepy.  She  says  she  's  not  been  sleep- 
ing well ! " 

"  Oh,"  cried  Pippin,  "  she  never  told  me !  " 

"  Never  mind,"  said  the  Earl,  "  a  few  all-day  out- 
ings with  us  — " 

"  Oh,  yes,  sir !  Yes,  indeed,  sir  —  they  '11  set  'er 
up,  your  lordship,  won't  they  ?  And  she  's  going 
again  soon?" 

The  little  barmaid's  eyes  glowed.  The  Earl 
nodded  back. 

"  You  got  your  box  ?  "  said  he. 

"  'Ow  can  I  ever  thank  you  enough,  sir,  you  're 
too  good ! " 

"  Fill  it  up,"  he  said;  "  let  them  all  come!  " 

His  lordship  was  in  good  spirits.  But  suddenly 
like  a  shadow,  over  his  lordly  happiness,  appeared 
the  tall,  broad  figure  of  Mr.  Charles  Browne  of 
Goshen,  Indiana.  He  came  from  The  Royal  into 
the  barroom  and  looking  squarely  at  the  barmaid, 
he  stepped  up  to  the  bar,  shoulder  to  shoulder  with 
the  Earl  of  Clavering. 

"  Give  me  a  glass  of  cold  beer!  "  he  said. 

"  Good  night !  "  said  the  Earl,  turning  away. 

"  Good  night,  your  lordship,"   Pippin  returned 


PIPPIN  295 

pointedly,  "  I  am  glad  Miss  Lawrence  enjoyed  'er- 
self  to-d'y!" 

She  glanced  at  Mr.  Browne,  drew  the  beer,  and 
put  it  down  for  him.  He  was  looking  over  his 
shoulder  at  the  departing  Earl. 

"  That 's  'im !  "  said  Pippin. 

Mr.  Browne's  face  grew  heavy  and  dark.  He 
glared  at  the  glass  of  beer,  took  it  up  and  drank. 

The  door  opened  and  Dandy  came  in  from  the 
street.  At  the  same  moment  Mr.  Browne  put  down 
his  glass  and  leaned  forward. 

"  I  am  going  away,"  he  said.  "  I  thought  I 
would  n't,  but  — " 

Pippin  knew  this  encounter  with  the  Earl  had 
done  it. 

"She  broke  it  off  in  that  last  letter — "  he  ad- 
mitted, pondering  miserably.  "  Well,"  to  Pippin, 
"  do  as  you  like  about  telling  Miss  Lawrence  I 
came ! " 

He  turned  away  and  went  slowly  out.  Pippin 
looked  at  Dandy.  There  was  a  question  in  his 
sharp  glance. 

"  S'truth,"  sighed  Pippin.  "  'E  's  a  bloke  from 
America.  Mr.  Browne  from  Goshen,  Indiana. 
'E 's  come  to  see  Miss  Lawrence,  to  take  'er  aw'y, 
like  enough,  an'  I  've  told  'im  str'ight  an'  plain  — 
Miss  Lawrence  is  getting  engiged  to  the  Earl  of 
Clavering.  I  Ve  got  Mr.  Browne  to  go  aw'y !  " 

"  You  've  got  'im  to?  "  Dandy  thrust  his  head  for- 


296  PIPPIN 

ward  unbelievingly.  "  You  've  got  him  to  go,  and 
Miss  Lawrence  not  knowing  'e  's  'ere !  She  's  get- 
ting engiged  to  the  Earl?  " 

He  glanced  at  her  with  desperate  vexation  as  he 
saw  what  she  had  been  up  to  —  and  the  Earl  of 
Clavering  about  to  marry  his  cousin,  Lady  Maude ! 

"  Now  you  Ve  made  a  bit  o'  trouble,"  he  sternly 
rebuked  her,  turned  and  swung  out  of  the  barroom 
by  the  street  door,  just  in  time  to  see  a  cab  driving 
away  with  the  American  inside. 

"  Hi,  cabby !  "  hailed  Dandy. 

The  driver  did  not  hear,  but  a  lounger  ran  up. 

"  Want  the  gentleman  inside  ?  " 

"  Yes,  old  covey,"  Dandy  said.  "  I  did !  Now 
where  in  blazes  do  you  fancy  'e  's  going?  " 

"  To  the  Savoy  hotel !  "  said  the  lounger.  "  I 
'card  the  address !  " 

Dandy  threw  him  a  penny  and  set  out  with  all  the 
fleetness  of  his  nimble  limbs. 

As  Dandy  fled  from  the  bar,  he  had  unknowingly 
brushed  past  his  master,  who  attributed  the  depar- 
ture to  shyness.  Mr.  Granville,  smiling  at  this, 
stepped  forward  and  ordered  something  to  drink. 
But  before  she  could  serve  him,  he  said  slyly  to  the 
little  barmaid :  "  I  hear  you  are  willing  to  retire 
from  this  position  of  responsibility,  to  become  my 
housekeeper !  " 

"  Oh,  sir,  thank  you,  sir,"  gaped  Pippin.  "  Then 
you  're  Mr.  Granville ! "  She  viewed  him  with 


PIPPIN  297 

instant  approval  and  suddenly  with  her  most  win- 
ning smile,  leaning  forward,  begged :  "  You  '11 
give  us  a  little  time,  sir  ?  " 

"Time?"  queried  the  playwright.  "I  thought 
this  day  week  — " 

"  Dandy  's  quite  determined  on  it.  'E  would  n't 
leave  you  though,  with  no  one  to  look  out  for  you ; 
Miss  Lawrence  is  quite  as  needing  as  you  are,  ask- 
ing your  pardon,  sir !  " 

The  playwright  pursed  his  lips  in  a  low  whistle. 
"  Well,  well,"  he  smiled.  The  girl  amused  him  and 
suddenly  he  leaned  forward,  promising  whisper- 
ingly. 

;<  You  shall  not  leave  Miss  Lawrence  until  she 
can  spare  you  —  there !  " 

"  Oh,  thank  you,  sir,  thank  you  a  thou — " 

[<  Your  conscientiousness  is  tremendous ! "  he 
said.  "  It  is  commendable  —  and  Miss  Lawrence 
must  be  looked  out  for,  first  of  all.  We  will  see  to 
that!" 

Seeing  the  joyous  results  of  his  promise,  Mr. 
Granville  laughed  again  in  his  big  way  and  disre- 
garding the  shilling  put  down  for  a  drink  he 
walked  away. 

"  Now  look  at  that ! "  the  barmaid  cried,  as  she 
discovered  the  money.  "  But,  my  eye !  I  do  like 
Mr.  Granville !  " 

The  room  was  empty  and  the  landlord  nodding 
sleepily.  She  pocketed  the  money. 


298  PIPPIN 

"  I  '11  give  it  to  Dandy  for  expenses  of  the 
manor,"  she  vowed,  bustling  about  her  preparation 
for  departure. 

When  she  reached  home,  she  found  Miss  Law- 
rence already  there.  She  was  sitting  as  she  had 
come  in,  rather  wearily,  before  the  grate  in  which 
there  was  no  fire. 

"  Are  you  cold,  Miss  ?  "  asked  Pippin  anxiously. 

"  Well,  chilly  perhaps,"  Leonora  said.  "  I 
could  have  lighted  the  fire.  You  spoil  me  terribly, 
Pippin.  It  will  be  good  for  me  to  be  left  alone !  " 

Pippin  only  hurried  to  touch  a  match  to  the 
wood  she  had  laid.  "  So  you  'ad  a  pleasant  d'y, 
Miss?" 

"  Yes,"  Leonora  said.  "  We  had  a  lovely  time 
and  I  am  dead  tired.  I  like  the  Claverings!  I 
may  tell  you  a  secret,  too,  Pippin — " 

"Oh,  Miss,  what?"  the  girl's  eager  little  face 
came  close  to  Miss  Lawrence's,  her  hands  clasped 
ecstatically  across  her  breast. 

"  Lady  Maude  and  the  Earl  of  Clavering  are  to 
be  married  very  soon !  " 

Pippin  drew  back. 

"  Oh,  Miss  Lawrence !  "  she  cried  in  an  agony  of 
disappointment.  "  Then  what  —  whatever  about 
you?" 

"  You  foolish  child,"  exclaimed  Leonora. 

"  O  Gawd-,  Miss !  "  Pippin  wept ;  "  I  wish,  I  wish 
I  was  dead !  " 


PIPPIN  299 

"Why,  Pippin!" 

"  But  Miss,  Mr.  Browne,  'e  — " 

Leonora  started. 

"  What  about  Mr.  Browne?  " 

"  'E  came  —  to-d'y  —  from  Goshen  — " 

Leonora  rose  like  a  cold  white  statue. 

"  I  sent  for  'im  to  come  —  when  'e  got  'ere,  I 
sent  'im  aw'y ! " 

"  You  sent  for  Mr.  Browne  —  he  has  been  here 
and  you  sent  him  away  ?  " 

Pippin  stirred  roughly  the  tranquil  curls  on  her 
forehead. 

"  I  did,  Miss  • —  but,"  she  cried,  looking  up  wildly, 
"you  had  wrote  'im  su'think  'arsh.  He  said  you 
did  —  it  was  n't  all  me.  You  'd  sent  'im  a  let- 
ter—" 

"  Let  me  understand,"  commanded  Leonora, 
gripping  the  girl's  shoulders.  "  Mr.  Browne  came 
—  came  here  and  you  sent  him  away?  " 

Pippin  blurted  out  guilty  assent,  her  shoulders 
quivering  in  the  painfully  tense-fingered  grasp. 

"  What  right  had  you?  "  cried  Leonora.  "  How 
dared  you  ?  How  dared  you - —  are  you  privileged 
to  interfere  with  my  very  life's  happiness  —  and 
his?  Oh,  what  a  fool  I  have  been!  I  have  put 
myself  actually  in  your  keeping,  in  your  meddling 
child's  hands—" 

"  I  thort  it  was  for  your  life's  'appiness  I  sent 
'imorf!" 


300  PIPPIN 

"  What,  oh,  what  have  you  done  to  me?" 

Leonora  released  her,  turned  to  the  mantelshelf, 
her  head  sinking  upon  her  arms,  sobs  came  fast  and 
furious. 

"  What  'ave  I  done  ?  "  Pippin  questioned  with 
fearful  uncertainty. 

Her  hands  groped  yearningly  over  the  shaken 
form.  But  slowly  she  drew  back,  seeing  in  its 
enormity  the  thing  she  had  done.  The  weeping 
filled  the  room,  despairingly.  Numb,  cold  and 
deathly  frightened,  stood  Pippin,  trying  to  think. 
Suddenly  to  her  ears  came  footsteps  and  voices. 

"  'Ere  's  Miss  Lawrence's  room.  Can  you  see, 
sir?  One  more  step,  there!  I  told  'er,  as  you 
would  n't  go  so  easy !  " 

It  was  the  caretaker  speaking. 

"Wouldn't  go?  of  course  not.  There's  been  a 
misunderstanding." 

"  Dandy !  "  shrieked  Pippin. 

She  sprang  to  the  door,  but  was  fairly  trampled 
back  by  the  advance  of  none  other  than  Mr.  Charles 
Browne. 

"  Molly !  "  he  cried.     He  did  not  say  Leonora. 

"  Charlie !  "  came  in  a  sob  of  answering  gladness. 
His  arms  opened,  closed  and  clasped  her  to  him. 

"  Dear  little  runaway  Molly !  " 

"  Charlie,"  she  still  sobbed.  "  I  was  afraid  you 
had  gone !  " 

"After  this,  Victoria  Alexandra,"  sternly  spoke 


PIPPIN  301 

Dandy  looking  in  at  Pippin,  "  perhaps  you  '11  mind 
your  own  affairs !  " 

But  she  stared  as  though  the  faint  forms  there 
in  the  flickering  candle-light  were  only  ghosts. 

"  Perhaps  she  will,  but  she  won't,"  added  the 
caretaker  officiously. 

Pippin  answered  looking  out  at  Dandy  con- 
tritely: "I  will,  s'elpme!" 


CHAPTER  XXI 

T  is  too  long  for  you  by  just  the  width 
of  one  ruffle,  Pippin ! "  Miss  Law- 
rence stepped  back  to  survey  the  little 
figure  standing  on  a  chair  in  her  re- 
cent gift  of  the  pink  ruffled  frock. 
"  Then  I  've  to  lose  a  whole  flounce,  Miss !  "  re- 
gretted Pippin,  twisting  for  a  better  view  in  the 
small  mirror  over  the  chest.  "  I  always  feared 
I  'd  'ave  cause  to  be  sorry  for  not  growing  a  bit 
more ! " 

"  This  is  a  time  for  nothing  but  happiness,"  re- 
minded Leonora.  "  Now  get  your  scissors  and  be- 
gin!" 

"  Right !  "  Pippin  gathered  the  skirt  round  her 
and  jumped  to  the  floor.  "  'Ear  the  flutist,  Miss  — 
practise  do  make  perfect!  " 

Leonora  was  busy  packing  and  could  not  attend. 
She  came  upon  a  pair  of  pink  slippers  and  held 
them    up,    looking    at    Pippin.     Her    eyes    grew 
rounder,  raised  to  Leonora's  questioningly.     Leo- 
nora nodded.     Pippin  came  forward. 

"  Oh,  Miss  — "  she  took  the  slippers  tenderly. 
"  I  've  often  looked  at  'em  an'  felt  the  satin.  You 
are  too  good !  " 

302 


PIPPIN  303 

"  Now,"  said  Leonora,  "  you  will  be  all  in  pink 
^—  a  little  pink  bride !  " 

"I  ort  to  be  very  'appy,"  Pippin  said,  folding 
this  last  gift  to  her. 

"  Ought  to  be  —  Pippin  ?  " 

"  I  am  'appy,  Miss."  Pippin  looked  up  at  Miss 
Lawrence.  "  It 's  just  a  bit  'ard  —  letting  you  go, 
just  a  bit!" 

Two  tears  trembled  on  her  lashes,  rolled  down 
the  apple-cheeks  and  splashed  on  the  sole  of  one 
slipper. 

"  I  'd  never  ask  for  nothink  better  than  to  stay 
and  do  for  you.  It 's  been  so  different  since  that 
day  I  found  you,  Miss.  It 's  very  'ard  —  giving 
you  up ! " 

"  Giving  me  up  to  happiness ! "  reminded  Miss 
Lawrence.  "  When  I  want  to  be  given  up  to  go 
back  with  Mr.  Browne  to  Goshen,  Indiana?  And 
I  '11  write  often,  please,  ma'am  — " 

Pippin  laughed  in  spite  of  her  grief. 

"  I  want  to  give  you  up  to  'appiness,"  she  ad- 
mitted, "  and  that  do  seem  to  be  Mr.  Browne ! " 

"  It  is !  "  exclaimed  Miss  Lawrence. 

Pippin  was  marveling: 

"  'Ow  quick  it  '11  be  over !  You  're  Miss  Law- 
rence now;  you  go  out,  meet  Mr.  Browne,  and  in 
another  hour  you  are  Mrs.  Browne !  " 

"Yes,  it's  very  simple."     But  Leonora  blushed 
happily. 
19 


304  PIPPIN 

"If  it  'ad  n't  been  for  Dandy,  though,  Miss!" 
Pippin  recalled.  "  '  Who  's  that  ?  '  he  says  to  me, 
when  'e  saw  Mr.  Browne  walking  out  last  night.  I 
tells  'im.  Without  a  '  If  you  please,'  Dandy  walks 
out  after  the  gentleman,  his  own  master  in  the  bar- 
room too,  Dandy  walks  out  — " 

"  I  shall  always  love  Dandy !  "  Leonora  said. 

"  A  near  thing,"  Pippin  admitted,  with  guilty  rec- 
ollection. 

But  Miss  Lawrence  began  humming  "  Way 
Down  South  in  Dixie."  Wisely  she  must  refrain 
from  admitting  that  it  was  after  all  due  to  Pippin 
that  Charlie  Browne  had  come  at  all.  And  in  a 
few  more  hours  she  and  Charlie  were  to  be  mar- 
ried; that  afternoon  after  the  play.  She  bent  her 
happy  blushing  face  over  the  trunk.  When  last 
night,  she  had  looked  up  from  his  comforting  arms, 
Charlie  had  whispered :  "  Get  your  hat,  Mollie !  " 

And  down  in  the  Court  while  they  walked,  how 
quickly  she  had  told  of  all  the  past  weeks  of  hope, 
vain  endeavor,  and  despair.  And  at  last  success, 
but  not  happiness. 

"  I  wanted  you,  Charlie,"  she  told  him  honestly, 
gladly.  "  And  I  had  to  come  way  over  here  and 
suffer  —  to  find  it  out !  " 

So  he  would  not  wait  for  anything  more.  She 
must  take  him  now,  he  said.  There  was  nothing 
to  wait  for  and  she  wanted  to  take  him  —  now. 

"  Not  another  tear ! "  she  commanded,  as  look- 


PIPPIN  305 

ing  up,  she  saw  Pippin  shedding  some  in  secret. 
"  And  I  think  the  heels  are  too  high  for  you  on  the 
pink  slippers;  Cobbler  Miles  can  fix  them." 

"  'E  shan't  touch  'em,  please,  Miss !  "  Pippin 
put  them  down  carefully.  "  I  must  'elp  you  or 
you  '11  never  get  your  packing  done  an'  then  what  '11 
Mr.  Browne  s'y  ?  " 

She  was  taking  the  things  from  the  drawers, 
when  she  looked  up  at  the  wall  over  the  fireplace. 
She  crossed  the  room,  moved  a  chair  and  stepping 
upon  it  reached  for  the  picture  of  His  Majesty,  the 
King  of  England. 

"  Miss,"  she  said,  "  I  'd  like  you  to  'ave  His 
Majesty  —  to  take  'im  with  you,  back  to  Goshen, 
Indiana.  Mar  would  wish  it,  too,"  she  added 
quickly,  seeing  that  Miss  Lawrence  seemed  to  hes- 
itate. "  Will  you  take  'im,  Miss  ?  " 

She  held  out  the  picture,  looking  back  over  her 
shoulder  at  the  Queen. 

"  They  must  part  —  like  you  an'  me,  Miss ;  King 
Edward  goes  with  you,  Her  Highness  stops  with 
me!" 

"  Can  Her  Highness  spare  him  ?  Can  you,  Pip- 
pin?" 

Pippin  nodded  gravely  and  Leonora  accepted  His 
Majesty  with  all  reverence  and  tenderness. 

"  Thank  you,  Pippin.  I  '11  never  part  with  the 
picture." 

"  In  with  'im ! "  cried  Pippin,  and  taking  back 


306  PIPPIN 

His  Majesty,  wrapped  the  picture  carefully  first  in 
tissue  paper,  then  in  a  pink  silk  kimono,  and  placed 
it  tenderly  in  a  nook  in  the  trunk. 

"  And  put  the  sofy  cushion  with  the  big  *  H  '  on 
it,  atop  of  'im,  Miss,  to  keep  'im  safe  —  I'm  so 
pleased,"  she  sighed,  "  that  there  is  su'think " — 
she  paused,  quick  to  realize  beside  the  gratification 
of  bestowing  this  treasure  upon  her  friend,  the  su- 
perb benefit  to  her  Sovereign's  likeness.  In  the 
home  of  the  Browne's  low  temptation  would  not 
abide.  His  Royal  Highness  could  hang  unmo- 
lested; there  become  forever  disassociated  with 
even  a  memory  of  the  demon  Drink!  He  would 
have  been  safe  enough  with  her  now  —  ah  yes! 
Yet  something  about  his  going  helped  to  dispel  the 
past. 

"  My  word !  'Ow  time  do  go  to-d'y,"  she  cried 
as  the  clock  on  the  mantel  struck.  "  Sally  will  be 
along  soon  now." 

"  And  I  must  hurry,  too,"  added  Leonora,  bend- 
ing over  her  trunk  again. 

But  again  Pippin  stopped  her. 

"  Miss,"  she  whispered  softly. 

Leonora  looked  up.     Pippin  held  up  her  finger. 

"  It 's  come  true  what  Mrs.  Crimmins  —  Miles  I 
mean,  said  about  the  little  room  being  lucky !  " 

They  both  stood  silent.  Teddy  twittered  hap- 
pily. The  kettle  on  the  hob  sang  softly  and  from 
above  the  gentle  queen  looked  down  still  smiling. 


PIPPIN  307 

"  Pippin !  I  s'y,  Pippin !  "  It  was  the  cry  of 
Dad  Raymond  in  the  hall. 

For  a  moment  Pippin  looked  terrified,  then  her 
face  cleaned  and  she  went  to  the  door. 

"Dad!" 

"  The  sime,"  said  he. 

"  Why,  Dad  — " 

"  Flossie  sent  'em !  "  he  told  her,  extending  a 
bouquet  of  white  marguerites,  "  with  'er  compli- 
ments and  thanks  for  the  invitation." 

Mr.  Raymond  coughed  a  little  anxiously. 

"  Do  I  get  it  right  that  it 's  a  box  party  you  in- 
vites us  to?  " 

"Right-O!"  cried  Pippin. 

"  I  can't  stop  now,"  he  said.  "  I  've  a  chimney 
to  sweep  out  and  to  get  'ome  and  washed  up  before 
time  to  start  to  the  pl'y!  An'  Flossie  draws  me 
p'y!  I'd  be  on  the  streets,  if  I  didn't  do  what 
she  says." 

"  I  am  glad  you  're  so  'appy,  Dad,"  said  Pippin, 
hiding  her  smile  in  the  marguerites.  "  Give  my 
love  to  Flossie  an' — " 

"You  won't  let  on  I've  said  anythink?"  he 
begged,  "  an',  I  s'y,  Pippin,  come  round  to  tea,  will 
yer?" 

"Rather!     S'long,  Dad." 

He  went  off,  not  like  a  henpecked  husband,  but 
with  quite  a  jaunty  air. 

"  An'  'e  'ad  his  tooth  in,"  Pippin  recalled  with 


3o8  PIPPIN 

satisfaction  as  she  put  the  marguerites  in  a  glass  of 
water  on  the  mantelshelf. 

"  That  is  a  good  sign,"  said  Leonora.  "  It 
shows  — " 

"  Flossie  's  got  the  upper  'and !  "  said  Pippin. 

Leonora  laughed  and  catching  up  a  shoe  that 
she  had  overlooked,  crowded  it  into  the  top  tray 
and  closed  her  trunk.  She  went  to  the  mirror, 
tucking  back  a  stray  lock  of  hair  and  taking  up  her 
hat. 

"  Mr.  Browne  will  come  at  any  moment ! 
There  's  lunch,  then  the  fitting  of  my  gown,  hat 
and  gloves  to  buy,  all  before  the  matinee ! " 

"  Miss  Lawrence,"  began  Pippin,  "  I  am  going 
to  tell  you  'ow  I  feel  'ere !  "  The  pit  of  her  stom- 
ach seemed  to  be  the  seat  of  emotions  with  Pippin 
and  she  now  indicated  it  gravely. 

"  I  wanted  you  to  'ave  the  Earl.  I  was  quite 
bashed  when  I  found  you  was  n't  to.  But  the  more 
I  thinks  of  Mr.  Browne — 'is  lovin'  eyes  when  'e 
talked  o'  you  yesterd'y,  his  beautiful  teeth  when  'e 
laughed  for  seeing  you  last  night!  I  am  very 
pleased  it 's  to  be  Mr.  Browne  after  all !  " 

"  Good !  "  cried  Leonora.  "  There !  There  's 
some  one  in  the  hall  now !  " 

But  without  ceremony  the  door  was  opened  and 
the  young  visitor  walked  in. 

"  Hellow,  Pippin,  we  've  come  to  the  pl'y !  " 
greeted  little  Hal  and  flew  to  her  open  arms. 


PIPPIN  309 

"  Oh,  Miss,  feel  'im,"  she  cried  as  she  released 
the  boy,  to  prod  and  sound  his  now  firm  and 
changed  little  body.  "  'E  's  as  plump  an'  beautiful 
as  a  partridge  — 'ello,  Sally !  " 

Sally  Taylor  appeared  in  the  doorway. 

"  My  eye ! "  approved  Pippin,  a  little  dazed  how- 
ever. 

"  Ain't  Aunt  Sally  grand  ? "  cried  the  happy 
boy. 

Sally's  bonnet  had  become  a  small  bower  of  pop- 
pies. Her  hair  had  acquired  a  kink  that  must  last 
forever,  the  heavy  bang  meeting  her  faint  brows 
evenly.  A  quantity  of  pinchbeck  jewelry,  chains, 
watch  and  two  bead  necklaces,  was  scattered  over 
her  slender  person.  Her  gloves  stopped  far  below 
the  frill  in  her  sleeve. 

Standing  on  one  foot  she  looked  shyly  at  Miss 
Lawrence,  and  Pippin. 

"  You  've  sent  me  a  shilling  too  much,"  she  said, 
taking  one  from  her  purse. 

"  Not  a  bit,"  said  Pippin  with  financial  insou- 
ciance. "  Hal  is  'alf  fare  from  your  plice." 

"  You  need  n't  have  done  it  —  not  after  this  rare 
treat,"  insisted  Sally,  letting  the  shilling  drop  back 
into  her  purse.  "  Well,  Taylor  comes  on  the  next 
train  and  is  going  straight  to  The  Royal  with  the 
boys!" 

Sally  stood  on  the  other  foot. 

"  Sit  down,  Sally,"  urged  Miss  Lawrence. 


3io  PIPPIN 

"  I  hate  new  shoes,"  admitted  Sally,  dropping 
into  the  proffered  chair. 

"  May  I  come  in  ?  "  inquired  Sally's  mother  from 
without. 

It  was  rather  a  solemn  face  that  the  caretaker 
brought.  She  was  not  in  gala  dress  yet  and  her 
hair  was  still  tightly  bound  in  curlers,  over  these  a 
hair  net. 

"  I  'm  sorry  to  lose  yer,  Miss,  indeed  I  am !  "  she 
said,  mopping  her  face  with  her  apron. 

"  I  'm  not  being  lost,"  Leonora  laughed.  "  I  am 
only  going  to  be  married  and  go  home  and  I  want 
you  all  to  remember  me  — " 

"Remember?" 

"Who  could  help  it?" 

"Oh,  Miss!" 

Into  the  three  earnest  and  admiring  faces  looked 
Leonora.  She  took  up  something  from  the  bed. 

"  They  're  just  little  remembrances  —  not  even 
quite  new  — "  She  held  out  to  Sally  a  long  chain 
of  seed-coral,  though  another  chain  Sally  hardly 
seemed  to  need.  A  belt  of  beaded  design  she 
dangled  before  the  caretaker.  "  It  lets  out  to  fit 
any  waist,"  she  said  and  then  she  cried,  "  And  oh, 
I  want  you  all  to  know  I  'm  just  awfully  happy." 

Sally  and  her  mother  were  loud  in  their  thanks 
for  the  gifts  and  Pippin  and  Sally  went  to  the  win- 
dow to  look  more  closely  at  the  coral  chain. 

"  Very  good,"  the  caretaker  sighed  resignedly. 


PIPPIN  311 

"Of  course  I  'd  like  to  think  of  you  married  to  an 
earl—" 

"  How  silly,  Mother !  "  sniffed  Sally,  slipping  on 
the  newest  chain  which  went  well  with  the  others. 
"  I  just  told  Mother  downstairs,"  Sally  went  on, 
turning  to  Miss  Lawrence,  "  I  told  'er  /  always  be- 
lieve in  marrying  your  own  color  and  kind.  Fancy 
mixing  races  up  like  that !  Americans  and  earls  — 
Father  feels  the  same  way !  " 

"  Yes,"  admitted  the  caretaker.  "  Miles  is  all  for 
the  American.  I  did  n't  see  'im  give  Miles  any- 
think  last  night,  neither."  Mrs.  Miles  paused  at 
this  idea.  "  Miles  an'  me  had  hoped  for  your  in- 
fluence to  get  the  Earl's  patronage.  Miles  wanted 
to  get  out  a  sign  about  it.  '  Shoe-maker  to  the 
Earl  of  Clavering,'  it  'd  be  the  making  of  'im  — 
Miles,  I  mean !  " 

"  For  real  influence  of  that  sort,  apply  to  Pip- 
pin !  "  Miss  Lawrence  told  them  slyly. 

"  I  s'y,"  suddenly  cried  the  boy ;  "  where  's  din- 
ner?" ' 

"  Bless  'is  'eart ! "  Pippin  drew  him  closer. 
"  Go  an'  give  Miss  Lawrence  a  kiss  for  she  's  going 
aw'y ;  then  I  will  give  you  an'  Sally  su' think  to  eat 
before  you  start  off  to  the  pl'y.  And  I  've  su'think 
ever  so  nice  to  tell  you !  " 

He  advanced  sedately,  his  face  now  quite  round 
and  merry,  raised  for  the  kiss.  Leonora  took  up 
the  little  hands,  pressed  them  together  upon  a  gold- 


3i2  PIPPIN 

piece  and  whispering  in  his  ear,  "  To  buy  Pippin  a 
present,"  she  kissed  him  on  each  cheek. 

A  cab  rolled  into  the  little  court  below.  The 
visitors  rose,  expectant.  Leonora  looked  out  of 
the  window,  stepped  to  the  mirror,  and  touched  at 
her  hat. 

"  Good-by,"  she  said,  turning  to  them  all. 
"  Good-by,"  she  said,  again  looking  over  her  shoul- 
der at  Teddy  who  stood  quite  still  on  his  perch, 
tipping  his  head  questioningly.  "  Good-by  little 
room,  good-by  Your  Majesty !  " 

She  smiled  up  at  the  gentle  queen. 

"  I  '11  see  you  off !  "  insisted  the  caretaker,  fol- 
lowing with  Sally,  little  Hal  and  Pippin,  who  car- 
ried the  satchels. 

Mr.  Browne  was  waiting. 

"  These  are  all  my  friends,"  Leonora  told  him 
happily. 

As  he  smiled  at  them  all,  swinging  off  his  straw 
hat  gallantly,  Leonora  drew  Pippin  aside,  flashed 
before  her  the  magic  name  of  Toby  Hamilton  on  a 
sealed  letter  and  whispered :  "  Post  it,  Pippin !  " 

It  was  the  same  Pippin  had  noticed  these  two 
days  past  in  the  top  chest-drawer.  A  glance  into 
Miss  Lawrence's  eyes  was  enough.  She  snatched 
the  letter  with  a  triumphant  yell. 

"  I  '11  post  it  awright,"  she  chortled. 

Mrs.  Miles  stayed  a  sudden  tear  with  the  tip  of 
her  finger,  and  offered  Mr.  Browne  her  hand. 


PIPPIN  313 

He  shook  it,  shook  Sally's  —  then  turned  to  Pip- 
pin. 

"We're  friends!"  he  stated,  pressing  upon  her 
something  crisp  and  rustling. 

There  was  a  brief  struggle.  Emotion  must  be 
pumped  back  at  a  time  when  appearances  count  for 
everything.  Unlucky  the  bride,  reluctantly  given. 

"  Shake  hands  of  the  gentleman,  Hal !  "  she  re- 
minded with  a  little  tug  at  his  sleeve. 

Hal  and  Mr.  Browne  though  just  met,  gripped  in 
a  man-to-man  farewell.  Mr.  Browne  opened  the 
cab  door  and  turned  eagerly  to  Miss  Lawrence,  his 
arm  slipped  round  her,  drew  her  from  the  parting 
advice  of  the  friendly  caretaker,  the  clinging  clasp 
and  loving  gaze  of  little  Pippin.  Pippin's  hand 
closed  the  cab  door  upon  them,  hers  was  the  last 
glance  that  met  Leonora's  in  farewell. 

"  Remember,  we  're  going  to  have  the  loveliest 
tea,  you  and  I  —  a  great,  big,  farewell  tea!  And 
I  '11  always  be  good  to  His  Majesty !  " 

"  Yes,  Miss !  "  very  bravely. 

But  this  was  to  Pippin  the  real  good-by.  She 
had  given  Miss  Lawrence  back,  back  to  the  Amer- 
ican. She  went  away  from  Jubilee  Court  to  which 
Pippin  had  brought  her  —  his ! 

The  trunk  was  hoisted,  the  driver  took  his  seat, 
the  cab  rolled  away.  The  flutist  trilled  a  merry, 
joyful  farewell,  all  unknowingly.  Pippin  clasped 
her  hands  hardly  conscious  then  of  the  substantial 


314  PIPPIN 

banknote  she  held.     She  looked  until  the  cab  had 
turned. 

Miss  Lawrence  was  gone. 

The  Earl  of  Clavering  leaned  over  the  bar, 
brooding  darkly.  He  seemed  revengefully  bent 
upon  taking  his  displeasure  out  on  Pippin. 

"  What  'd  she  take  the  part  away  from  the  other 
girl  for,  if  she  did  n't  care  to  stick  to  it?  It 's  not 
what  I  'd  have  looked  for  —  from  Miss  Lawrence 
—  that 'sail!" 

Pippin  eyed  him  more  in  sorrow  than  anger. 

"  These  —  unreliable  Americans !  "  He  hesi- 
tated for  a  stronger  word. 

"  Well,  your  lordship  has  got  the  other  un  back, 
now!  "  flared  Pippin,  "  so  that 's  awright!  " 

"  Ungrateful !  "  regretted  the  Earl. 

The  matter  was,  the  first  Miss  Nestor  was  re- 
placing Miss  Lawrence  in  the  part.  She  knew  the 
lines  and  for  lack  of  another  engagement  had  been 
her  secret  understudy  at  the  suggestion  of  the  patri- 
otic and  foxy  Dicky  Rogers. 

"  That 's  the  kind  of  acting  his  lordship  wants !  " 
he  sniffed  whenever  he  had  smuggled  the  lady  into 
a  seat  to  witness  Miss  Lawrence's  rendition  at  The 
Royal. 

Privately  she  was  overawed  by  what  could  be  got 
out  of  the  part  and  regretted  indulging  the  temper 
that  had  caused  her  to  throw  it  up;  but  she 


PIPPIN  315 

sniffed  with  Dicky.  And  now  Dicky  was  up  in  the 
air! 

"  Ungrateful !  "  muttered  the  Earl. 

"  I  'ope  you  don't  mean  me,  sir,"  sighed  Pippin, 
"  when  you  've  give  me  a  box  party !  " 

The  Earl  did  not  fix  the  charge  but  went  away 
muttering.  Pippin  winked.  There  was  more  in 
this  than  met  the  eye,  any  eye  but  hers  at  least. 
Anger  sometimes  screens  a  bleeding  heart.  It 
seemed  sad  for  Lady  Maude!  All  being  quiet  in 
the  barroom,  Pippin  slipped  out,  into  The  Royal 
behind  his  lordship.  The  house  was  dark.  "  Miss 
Nestor's  Necklace  "  was  on.  Pippin's  half-closed, 
straining  eyes  found  first  Sally  Taylor's  poppy  hat  in 
the  stage-box.  Sally  clung  to  one  Pippin  took  to 
be  Mr.  Taylor,  the  play  affecting  them  both  greatly. 
Mrs.  Miles  and  her  cobbler  sat  hand-in-hand,  lost 
—  Dad  Raymond  looked  on,  though  certainly  a  lit- 
tle dully.  Flossy,  handsome  in  red  silk,  was  hold- 
ing Hal  close  to  them,  his  eager  little  compan- 
ions, Sally's  brothers.  The  dignified  Dandy  stood 
and  —  Pippin  narrowed  her  doubting  gaze !  But, 
yes  it  was  —  beside  him  Mr.  Bertram  Granville, 
Dandy's  master,  the  playwright. 

Apparent  indeed  was  his  appreciation  of  the 
leading  lady  his  play  was  about  to  lose.  Here  a 
wilful  tear  started  but  was  quickly  suppressed.  It 
was  to  happiness  Miss  Lawrence  was  going,  Pippin 
recalled.  Just  then  Dad  Raymond  flopped,  sank 


316  PIPPIN 

sideways,  but  Flossie  was  there,  prompt  with  a  re- 
mindful elbow.     Pippin  laughed  softly. 

"  Thank  Gawd  for  everythink,"  she  murmured 
with  a  contented  sigh. 


THE   END 


jn»0787110    6 


